Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate today ordered the arrest of Anuradhapura Atamasthadipathi Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera who is suspected to have abused a 15-year-old girl, and her mother involved in the incident.

The case was taken up in the Magistrate’s Chamber and not in the open court.

Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickremeratne made this order in response to the submissions made by Director of Law Enforcement in the National Child Protection Authority Attorney at Law Sajeewani Abeyratne on the instructions of Chairman of the Child Protection Authority Inoka Ranasinghe.

Director NCPA Sajeewani Abeyratne told court that the Child Protection Authority made inquiries, orally and in writing from the police as to why the Thera, suspected of the crime was not arrested and that the NCPA was attentive regarding the ongoing police investigations.

The official stated that, in the absence of a positive response from the police, the NCPA decided to file a motion to take up the case to do justice to the victim.

She sought permission of the court to name Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera and the girl’s mother as suspects in the case and requested to order their arrest.

She requested court to order the Controller of Immigration and Emigration to prevent the Ven. Thera from travelling aboard.

The Chief Magistrate ordered Nittambuwa Police to arrest the Thera and the girl’s mother and to produce them as suspects in the case. He further ordered the Controller of Immigration and Emigration to prevent Ven. Hemarathana Thera from travelling abroad.

Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority, former High Court Judge Inoka Ranasinghe, Director, Law Enforcement Sajeewani Abeyratne, and Asst. Director Hancy Halangoda made submissions for the state.