Magistrate orders arrest of Ven. Hemarathana Thera

By Upali Ananda

Colombo, May 8 (Daily Mirror) - The Anuradhapura Magistrate's Court has issued arrest warrants for the Anuradhapura Atamasthadipathi Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, and the mother of a 15-year old  girl in connection with an alleged abuse case.

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

Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickremeratne made this order in response to the submissions made by the Director of Law Enforcement of the National Child Protection Authority and 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 Ven. Hemarathana 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 mete out 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 further requested the court to order the Controller of Immigration and Emigration to prevent the Ven. Thera from travelling overseas.

The Chief Magistrate ordered the Nittambuwa Police to arrest the Ven. 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 Assistant Director Hancy Halangoda made submissions for the state.