The Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday ordered the Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthana, Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, further remanded until May 22 over allegations of the serious sexual abuse of a 15-year-old girl.
The case was taken up before Colombo Fort Magistrate Pasan Amarasekara on a motion filed on May 13. The Magistrate visited a private hospital in Colombo where the suspect monk is currently receiving treatment before issuing the remand order. The court also directed prison authorities to transfer the suspect to the National Hospital in Colombo based on medical recommendations.
The order resolves the jurisdictional impasse from a day earlier. On May 12, Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasidu Wickramaratne declined to issue a fresh remand order for the suspect, saying he could not legally extend remand because Hemarathana Thera had not been physically produced before that court and because the original Colombo Fort order had not been formally communicated to Anuradhapura. The case there had been refixed for May 15.
Police informed the Colombo Fort court that further statements were yet to be recorded from several individuals as investigations continue. President’s Counsel Kalinga Indatissa, appearing for the suspect monk, told court that his client strongly denies the allegations.
Prison officials submitted a medical report stating the suspect was not in a condition to be transported over a long distance and required several specialised medical examinations.
The case is scheduled to be taken up again on May 22. Hemarathana Thera, the highest-ranking Buddhist authority at Anuradhapura’s eight sacred sites, was first arrested on May 8 after the National Child Protection Authority moved court over alleged abuse of a minor.
