Sri Lankan monk arrested in child abuse case at sacred temple

The arrest of Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero sent a shock through Sri Lanka’s Buddhist establishment: one of the country’s most revered clerics, and custodian of the Atamasthana in Anuradhapura, was taken into custody over allegations involving a child at a sacred temple.

Pallegama Hemarathana, 71, serves as chief prelate and chief priest of the Atamasthana, the eight sacred sites in Anuradhapura that include the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, the ancient and deeply venerated tree linked to the Buddha’s enlightenment. Authorities arrested him in Colombo at a private hospital where he had gone for treatment, following allegations that he sexually abused a minor girl at a temple in Anuradhapura in 2022.

Reports on the child’s age differed, with some identifying her as 11 and others as 15. The allegation centers on abuse said to have occurred at a highly venerated temple on a major Buddhist pilgrimage route, a setting that sharpens the institutional weight of the case and the sensitivity around how it is handled.

The Anuradhapura Magistrate’s Court had issued arrest warrants and imposed a foreign travel ban, and immigration authorities were instructed to prevent the monk from leaving Sri Lanka. Police said the magistrate would guide further action, and court proceedings were expected on May 12.

The victim’s mother was also arrested and remanded on accusations of aiding and abetting the abuse. Child protection authorities had already criticized police for not arresting Pallegama Hemarathana earlier, despite his being named as a suspect. One report said the original complaint was lodged with Nittambuwa Police on March 6, 2026, first concerning abduction and detention of a minor before interviews with the girl led to sexual-abuse allegations.

The case is being described as the highest-profile clergy abuse case in Sri Lanka, and it underscores the difficulty of pursuing accountability when a suspect holds profound religious authority. Arrests of senior Buddhist monks remain unusual in Sri Lanka, where clergy are widely venerated and wield significant political influence. As of the latest reports, Pallegama Hemarathana had not publicly commented on the charges.