Senior Sri Lankan Buddhist monk arrested over charges of sexually abusing minor girl

The suspect, 71-year-old Pallegama Hemarathana, was taken into custody at a private hospital in Colombo, where he had been receiving treatment while investigations into the alleged incident were underway

COLOMBO: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-May 8th, 2026) Sri Lankan police have arrested a senior Buddhist monk over allegations of sexually abusing a minor girl, in what authorities describe as the most high-profile case involving clergy in the country.

The suspect, 71-year-old Pallegama Hemarathana, was taken into custody at a private hospital in Colombo, where he had been receiving treatment while investigations into the alleged incident were underway.

Police said the alleged abuse took place in 2022 at a highly revered temple in Anuradhapura, located around 200 kilometres north of Colombo, where the monk serves as the chief priest.

In a statement, police confirmed that legal proceedings are ongoing and said further action will be determined under the guidance of the relevant magistrate. The monk is expected to be produced before a court soon.

Authorities also revealed that the victim’s mother has been arrested for allegedly aiding and abetting the accused in connection with the case.

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The arrest comes a day after a local court in Anuradhapura imposed a foreign travel ban on the monk amid the investigation.
While Sri Lanka has previously seen isolated cases involving members of religious clergy accused of child abuse, officials say this case stands out due to the senior position held by the accused within the Buddhist hierarchy.

Hemarathana is known as the chief custodian of a sacred Bo tree believed to be descended from the original Bodhi tree in India under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago. He also oversees eight prominent temples that form part of a major Buddhist pilgrimage circuit in the country.
The case has drawn widespread attention in Sri Lanka, given the monk’s influential religious status and the significance of the temple network under his authority.