Leading Sri Lankan Monk Suspended Amid Child Abuse Charges

Amid intense public pressure, the Sri Lankan Buddhist clergy has suspended Pallegama Hemarathana, a senior monk, faced with child abuse allegations. The decision came after widespread criticism directed at both the police and religious authorities for their perceived slow response to the charges.

Hemarathana, aged 71, was accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl within the temple grounds in Anuradhapura. Following an investigation by the National Child Protection Authority, he was arrested on May 9. His subsequent hospital stay delayed his transfer to jail, but he was eventually granted bail on May 22.

A meeting of the Malwatta chapter in Kandy on Saturday led to his suspension from his leadership role at Atamasthana, which oversees the revered Sri Maha Bodhi shrine. The chapter's working committee appointed another senior monk as the acting chief during the ongoing judicial process.

This incident has cast a spotlight on the handling of abuse allegations involving influential figures in the Buddhist community. The monk's leadership covered some of the most sacred sites for Sri Lanka's Buddhist majority, drawing attention to the broader implications of the charges.

The girl's mother was also taken into custody, charged with facilitating the abuse. The case underscores challenges in addressing abuse within powerful religious circles.

(With inputs from agencies.)