A Sri Lankan-born Buddhist monk has been sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison in Australia after being convicted of sexually abusing six young girls at a temple in Melbourne.Naotunne Vijitha, 71, who served as the chief monk of the Dhamma Sarana temple in Melbourne’s south-east, was sentenced by Victoria’s County Court on Thursday (8), according to ABC News Australia.

Judge Pardeep Tiwana described the offences as a serious betrayal of trust, saying the monk had abused his respected position within the Sri Lankan Buddhist community.Vijitha was found guilty in 2025 of 17 offences, including nine counts of sexual penetration of a child and eight counts of committing an indecent act with a child.The offences took place between 1994 and 2002 at the temple, which operated in the Springvale and Keysborough areas of Melbourne.The court heard that Vijitha repeatedly lured young girls into his living quarters and sexually abused them, sometimes while their parents were in nearby rooms.

The victims had attended the temple with their families to participate in religious activities.During sentencing, Judge Tiwana said the monk had exploited the trust placed in him by parents who believed their children were safe at the temple.The judge said the offences had caused lasting psychological harm to the victims, some of whom continued to experience distress associated with Buddhist religious practices.The court heard that the women came forward to police years after the abuse, leading to Vijitha being charged in 2023.He pleaded not guilty during the trial, with his lawyers arguing that the alleged incidents had not occurred. They also said he could not remember some of the complainants.Vijitha will be required to serve at least nine years and four months before becoming eligible for parole.According to ABC News, several victims expressed anger when the monk smiled and waved at supporters in court following the sentencing.The court also heard that Vijitha was born in Sri Lanka and entered the Buddhist monastic order at the age of 15.He subsequently moved to Sweden, where he obtained citizenship, before relocating to Australia in 1994 to become chief monk of the Dhamma Sarana temple.Vijitha could face deportation after completing his prison sentence, with the court hearing that he was willing to return to Sweden.His lawyers had previously raised concerns about his health, including claims that he suffered from dementia.The sentencing brings to a conclusion the trial proceedings involving offences committed more than two decades ago, although Vijitha will remain imprisoned for a substantial period.