COLOMBO — In a historic and highly unusual move, Sri Lanka’s powerful Buddhist hierarchy has suspended one of its most prominent religious leaders following his arrest for the alleged sexual abuse of an underage girl. The decision has sent shockwaves through the religiously conservative South Asian nation.
The Council of Monks of the Malwatte Chapter announced on Saturday, May 30, 2026, that 71-year-old Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana has been stripped of his highly prestigious administrative responsibilities, effective immediately. The suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings against him. Another senior monk has been appointed to oversee his duties in an acting capacity.
A Sacred Position Stripped
Hemarathana served as the chief priest of Atamasthana—the eight highly venerated Buddhist shrines in the UNESCO World Heritage ancient city of Anuradhapura. Most notably, he was the chief custodian of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple, which houses a sacred ficus tree.
Buddhists globally believe the tree was grown from a cutting of the original historical Bodhi tree in India that sheltered the Buddha when he attained enlightenment over 2,500 years ago. The shrine attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims daily.
The suspension was handed down on Vesak, the holiest day in the Buddhist calendar, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha.
Relentless Pressure for Justice
The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) launched an investigation after receiving complaints about an incident that allegedly occurred on the temple premises in 2022. The victim, who was initially reported to be 11 years old, was later identified in local judicial records as a 15-year-old girl.
Law enforcement agencies and the Buddhist hierarchy initially faced severe public backlash and accusations of foot-dragging due to Hemarathana’s immense political and religious influence over Sri Lanka’s 74 percent Buddhist majority. Under mounting public pressure, an Anuradhapura magistrate issued a foreign travel ban and ordered police to apprehend the religious leader “without delay.”
Hemarathana was arrested by police on May 9, 2026, at a private hospital in the capital city of Colombo, where he had checked himself in for treatment as investigations intensified. In a parallel development, the victim’s mother was also arrested and remanded for allegedly aiding and abetting the abuse.
Legal Limbo and Clergy Misconduct
Following his arrest, Hemarathana spent over a week receiving medical treatment in the hospital under guard rather than being transferred to a prison cell. He was formally granted bail on May 22, 2026, under strict conditions, including a mandate to surrender his passport.
While Sri Lanka has seen prior cases of lower-ranking clergy members facing child abuse allegations, Hemarathana is the most senior and influential monk to ever be prosecuted for such a crime.
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The scandal marks the second major crisis for the country’s Buddhist institution in recent weeks. In late April, authorities at Colombo’s international airport arrested a group of 22 monks returning from Thailand after discovering 110 kilograms (242 pounds) of cannabis concealed in their luggage. Despite remaining in custody pending drug trafficking prosecution, those monks have not yet been officially suspended by the priesthood, highlighting the unprecedented nature of Hemarathana’s disciplinary removal.
