Sri Lankan authorities arrested Pallegama Hemarathana, a 71-year-old senior Buddhist monk, on Saturday for the alleged sexual abuse of an 11-year-old girl in 2022, police confirmed. The monk, who serves as the chief priest at a highly venerated temple in Anuradhapura, was taken into custody at a private hospital in Colombo, where he had sought medical treatment.
The alleged abuse reportedly occurred at the ancient Sri Maha Bodhi temple in Anuradhapura, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located about 125 miles north of Colombo. Hemarathana is the chief custodian of a sacred Bodhi tree believed to have descended from the original tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago. He also leads eight temples along a major Buddhist pilgrimage route.
Authorities have detained the monk pending further investigation and plan to present him before a judge soon. A travel ban was also imposed on Hemarathana by a local court in Anuradhapura to prevent him from leaving the country. The BBC reports that he has not publicly responded to the allegations and is scheduled for a court appearance on Tuesday.
In addition to the monk’s arrest, police have taken into custody the victim’s mother on charges of aiding and abetting the alleged abuse.
Why it matters
This case marks the highest-profile arrest of a Buddhist clergy member in Sri Lanka over sexual abuse allegations, drawing attention to concerns about misconduct within religious institutions. The accused’s prominent religious status and custodianship of a historic temple intensify public scrutiny.
The arrest comes amid heightened awareness of criminal behavior involving Buddhist monks in the region, including recent drug-related offenses and financial crimes reported in Sri Lanka and neighboring Thailand.
Background
Sri Lanka has previously seen several sexual abuse allegations involving clergy, but arrests of senior monks have been rare. Buddhist monks hold significant religious and cultural influence in Sri Lankan society, and allegations of this nature challenge the community’s trust in spiritual leaders.
Recent years have seen other controversies involving Buddhist clergy in Southeast Asia, including drug use, embezzlement, and investigations into unusual practices at monasteries. These incidents have prompted calls for greater accountability and transparency within religious institutions.
The government’s legal actions against Hemarathana indicate growing willingness to address abuse allegations at higher levels of religious hierarchy.
Sources
This article is based on reporting and publicly available information from the following source:
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