One of Sri Lanka’s most powerful Buddhist monks has been arrested over allegations of repeated sexual abuse of a minor. Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, a 71-year-old chief prelate and custodian of several sacred Buddhist sites, was taken into custody on Saturday while receiving treatment at a private hospital in Colombo.
The monk, who oversees eight sacred religious sites in Sri Lanka, is among the highest-ranking Buddhist figures in the country to face criminal allegations of this nature. He also serves as the chief priest of Anuradhapura, the ancient city recognised as a Sacred City of Anuradhapura UNESCO World Heritage Site.
According to local media, the survivor, now 15, was placed in a state care centre after police began investigating a separate complaint lodged in March involving the alleged abduction and detention of a minor. Interviews conducted during the investigation later uncovered allegations of prolonged sexual abuse.
The girl’s mother was also arrested and remanded into custody for allegedly aiding and assisting the abuse, according to Sri Lankan media reports.
He was later remanded to prison on charges of repeated rape and sexual assault of a girl at a temple in Anuradhapura in 2022. Authorities said the monk would remain under medical supervision at the Colombo prison hospital. A magistrate also imposed a travel ban after concerns were raised by child protection officials over delays in securing his arrest.
Arrests involving senior Buddhist monks remain highly unusual in Sri Lanka, where the clergy hold enormous religious, social and political influence. Buddhist leaders often play a visible role in public life and are widely revered across the island nation.
The monk is also the chief custodian of a sacred tree believed to have grown from a sapling of the Bodhi tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago.
Child protection authorities had earlier criticised police for failing to arrest the monk despite him being named as a suspect during the investigation. Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasidu Wickramaratne later ordered that the monk remain in custody while investigations continue.
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