Buddhist monk arrested over alleged rape of teen in Sri Lanka

The Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero holds one of the most revered positions in the Buddhist world.

Sri Lankan authorities arrested 71-year-old Pallegama Hemarathana, the chief priest of a revered temple in Anuradhapura, for allegedly sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl in 2022. The victim's mother was also arrested for aiding and abetting the crime.

Pallegama Hemarathana, 71, was arrested in Colombo amid an investigation into the alleged abuse of an 11-year-old girl in 2022. The crime is alleged to have taken place at a highly venerated temple in Anuradhapura, where Hemarathana is the chief priest.

Sri Lankan authorities arrested a senior Buddhist monk on Saturday for the alleged sexual abuse of an underage girl, police said, marking the highest-profile case involving clergy in the country.

One of Sri Lanka’s senior most Buddhist monks has been arrested for the sexual abuse of a minor girl, the police said on Saturday. Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana, 71, is the chief priest of a prominent temple in the country.

Sri Lankan authorities arrested a senior Buddhist monk today for the alleged sexual abuse of an underage girl, police said, marking the highest-profile case involving clergy in the country.

One of Sri Lanka's senior most Buddhist monks has been arrested for the sexual abuse of a minor girl, the police said on Saturday. Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana, 71, is the chief priest of a prominent temple in the country.