94 scholars demand a fair investigation into the abuse by the Atamasthana Chief Prelate

A joint statement has been issued by a group of leading academics, lawyers, and civil society activists in the country, urging for an independent investigation into the serious child abuse allegations against the Chief Incumbent of Atamasthana, Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, without any political, religious, or institutional influence. The statement strongly emphasizes that this case, which is scheduled to be recalled on May 22nd, is not merely against one individual, but an opportunity to test whether the rule of law in Sri Lanka applies equally to the powerful and the powerless.

Information has been revealed that the victimized girl has been subjected to these abuses from a very young age, and the relevant groups point out that this is not merely a crime committed by one individual, but a breakdown of the entire social system and institutional structure that is supposed to protect children. In particular, this incident has raised a profound question about the political and social justice prevailing in the country regarding the safety of women and children. The massive power imbalance in this case, with an individual possessing unlimited religious and institutional power on one side, and a girl in an extremely helpless economic and social situation, who did not even receive proper care from her family, on the other, has drawn significant attention.

The statement further notes that there is deep public concern regarding how law enforcement agencies, especially the police, handled this serious accusation. Incidents such as the police's reluctance to arrest the suspect monk and their subsequent actions to detain him in a private hospital have raised serious doubts among the public about the fairness of the law. Civil activists state that this public outcry and vigilance have arisen due to the fear that the functioning of the law will be hampered by power, positions, and discrimination.

Three main demands have been put forward through this joint statement against this injustice. These demands are: conducting an independent and transparent investigation free from influence, immediately ensuring the necessary legal, psychological, and social protection for the victimized girl, and guaranteeing a truth-based legal process that is not subservient to positions. The signatories, recalling a recent Supreme Court verdict against a university professor convicted of sexual abuse, highlight how difficult it is to achieve justice against powerful systems, and emphasize that no powerful individual, whether a cleric or a layperson, is above the law.

The statement also reminds the government that this is an excellent opportunity to practically demonstrate its election promises to protect women and children, rather than limiting them to mere words. Nearly eighty leading individuals representing various fields, including doctors, professors, lawyers, human rights and social activists, have signed this joint statement, and they further state that sacrificing helpless children to protect powerful institutions is absolutely unacceptable.

List of signatories

1.     Prof Jayadeva Uyangoda, Emeritus Professor, University of Colombo
2.     Prof Kamala Liyanage, Emeritus Professor, University of Peradeniya
3.     Prof Liyanage Amarakeerthi, Peradeniya University
4.     Prof Sasanka Perera, University of Colombo and South Asian University
5.     Prof Nirmal Dewasiri, Department of History, University of Colombo
6.     Kumari Kumaragamage, Author & Visual Artist 
7.     Saminmadan Wimal, Senior Lecturer, University of Jaffna
8.     Dr Chulani Kodikara, Independent Researcher
9.     Sandun Thudugala, Social Activist
10.     A.E. Rebecca, Project Manager
11.     Aingkaran Kugathasan, Attorney-at-Law, Jaffna
12.     Annie Kurian, Social Activist
13.     Anomaa Rajakaruna, Filmmaker
14.     Antonia Joseph, Social Activist
15.     Dr Anushka Kahandagamage, Buddhist Scholar 
16.     Dr Athula Samarakoon, Academic
17.     Dr Amali Wedagedara, Feminist Political Economist
18.     Anuratha Rajaretnam, Socio-Political Activist
19.     Balasingham Skanthakumar, Co-editor, Polity magazine
20.     Brintha Santhoshkumar, Social Activist
21.     Buhary Mohamed, Eastern Social Development Foundation
22.     Caryll Tozer, Women and Child Rights Activist
23.     C. Ranitha Gnanarajah, Attorney-at-Law
24.     C. Thayalarajan, Social Activist
25.     Chathurika Sewwandi, Attorney-at-Law and Social Activist
26.     Chulananda Samranayake, Writer and Literary Critic
27.     Dr Crystal Baines, Researcher
28.     Christine Perera, Activist
29.     Dr. Darshi Thoradeniya, Department of History, University of Colombo
30.     Dr. Dileepa Witharana, Open University
31.     Dhanusha Gihan Pathirana, Economist
32.     Gamini Chandrasekara, Retired Mechanical Engineer
33.     Dr Gayathri Lokuge, Centre for Poverty Analysis
34.     Hafsa Husain, Entrepreneur
35.     Inthumathy Hariharathamotharan, Civil Society Activist
36.     Janakie Seneviratne, Social & Political Activist
37.     Jayani Abeysekara, Human Rights Activist
38.     Dr Kanchuka Dharmasiri, University of Peradeniya
39.     Prof Kanchana Ruwanpura, University of Edinburgh
40.     Kumudini Samuel, Women and Media Collective
41.     Lekha Walallawita, Consultant Anesthetist, Australia
42.     Dr M. Alfred, Former Dean, Faculty of Management, University of Peradeniya
43.     Dr Mahendran Thiruvarangan, University of Jaffna
44.     M. Sooriasegaram, Retired Engineer & Social Activist
45.     Madhulika Gunawardena, debt justice activist and researcher
46.     Marisa de Silva, Social Activist
47.     Melani Gunatilake, Climate & Political Activist
48.     Natasha Vanhoff, Social Activist
49.     Nelun Gunasekera, Social Activist
50.     Nimalka Fernando, Attorney-at-Law
51.     Niranjala Arulnandy, Social Activist
52.     Niyanthini Kadirgamar, Feminist Collective for Economic Justice
53.     Padmini Weerasuriya, Social Activist
54.     Peter Rezel, Development Consultant
55.     Pushpa Ramlani, Social Activist
56.     Prof Prabha Manurathna, University of Kelaniya
57.     Pushparani Figurado, Social Activist
58.     Prof. R. Kapilan, Department of Botany, University of Jaffna
59.     Ramani Jayasundere, lawyer and social activist
60.     Ranjika de Silva, Former Registrar, Hector Kobekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute, Sri Lanka
61.     S. Metilda, Social Activist
62.     S. Kalavathy, Social Activist
63.     Sarah Arumugam, Attorney-at-Law
64.     Sarala Emmanuel, Feminist Activist
65.     Saraswathi Sivaguru, Former Member of Provincial Council & Trade Union Leader
66.     Shamila Rathnasooriya, Program and Operation Manager, MONLAR
67.     Dr S. Selvaganesh, Consultant Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon
68.     Shyama Basnayake, Political Activist 
69.     Safiya Riyaz, SAHR Advocate & Researcher
70.     Soosaipillai Anton Rex, Social Activist
71.     Sriyani Perera, Gender Consultant
72.     Stella Philips, Social Activist
73.     Sudantha Madhawa Fernando, Social Activist
74.     Sumika Perera, Women’s Resource Center
75.     Dr S. Arivalzahan, University of Jaffna.
76.     Dr Sakunthala Kadirgamar, Executive Director, Law & Society Trust
77.     Dr Sepali Kottegoda, Women and Media Collective
78.     Sunil Shantha Koralage, Writer
79.     Prof Sumathy Sivamohan, University of Peradeniya
80.     Swasthika Arulingam, Attorney-at-Law & President, United Federation of Labour
81.     T. Dilakshana, Attorney-at-Law
82.     Thilina Weerasinge, Journalist & Writer
83.     Dr Thiruni Kelegama, Academic 
84.     Thisaru Guruge, Professional
85.     Dr Tush Wickramanayake, Chairperson, Stop Child Cruelty Trust
86.     Udeni Thewarapperuma, Attorney-at-Law
87.     Prof. Uthpala Jayawardena, Open University
88.     Varaluxmy Jeganathan, Social Activist
89.     Vidura Munasinghe, Attorney-at-Law & Activist 
90.     Visaka Dharmadasa Association of War Affected Women
91.     Vishmitha Parameshwaran, Social Activist
92.     V. Balananthini, Social Activist
93.     Dr Visakesa Chandrasekaram, Filmmaker
94.     Dr Vivimarie Vanderpoorten, Open University