Sri Lanka’s senior Buddhist monk arrested in alleged minor abuse case

Police in Sri Lanka arrested Pallegama Hemarathana, one of the country’s most senior Buddhist monks and chief custodian of a Bodhi-tree shrine, on suspicion of abusing a minor in 2022; the survivor’s mother was also arrested for alleged abetting. Hemarathana was taken from hospital and will appear in Colombo court as authorities imposed a travel ban while investigating an alleged abduction and prolonged sexual abuse of the girl. The case marks the highest‑ranking monk to face such allegations in Sri Lanka, arising after a March complaint and ongoing child-protection inquiries.