An uncertain situation due to Pallegama Thero's non-appearance in court

Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickramarathna today (12) rejected an order to re-remand Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, the Chief Incumbent of Atamasthana, who is currently remanded by Court No. 08 of the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court, on charges of committing severe sexual abuse against a 15-year-old minor girl.

When this case was recalled today at the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate's Court, the Chief Magistrate pointed out that the order given by the Colombo No. 08 Magistrate to keep the suspect Thero in remand until May 12 and produce him before the Anuradhapura court today, has not yet been received by his court. Furthermore, he explained that he does not have the legal provisions to issue an order for re-remand when the suspect is not present in court, and that if such an order were to be issued under the current circumstances, it should be done by the Magistrate who observed the suspect and ordered his remand.

Prison officials explained why the suspect Pallegama Hemarathana Thero was not produced in court today, and a medical report sent by the Superintendent of Welikada Remand Prison through Anuradhapura Prison Superintendent Mr. Prasad Prematilake was also submitted to the court. It indicated that the suspect Thero was not in good enough health to be transported to a distant area, and that he could not be produced in court today as he needed to undergo several special medical examinations.

During the trial, Chief Police Inspector P.M. Anura Gunawardena, OIC of Nittambuwa Police, who appeared for the prosecution, stated that statements from several other individuals are yet to be recorded for the investigations related to the incident. Accordingly, after considering the submissions from all parties, the Chief Magistrate ordered that the case be recalled on the upcoming Friday, the 15th, and also ordered the Nittambuwa Police to submit a report detailing the progress of the investigations on that day.

President's Counsel Kalinga Indatissa, appearing in court for the suspect Atamasthanadhipathi Thero, vehemently rejected the serious sexual harassment charge leveled against his client. Furthermore, he alleged that there is a tendency for professionals such as doctors and lawyers, as well as the general public, to try and pass judgment on this incident through social media.

In connection with this incident, Pallegama Hemarathana Thero was arrested by the Nittambuwa Police on the night of the 8th at a private hospital in Colombo, following an immediate order issued by the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate. Acting on the instructions of Mrs. Preethi Inoka Ranasinghe, retired High Court Judge and Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority, and after considering a submission made to the court under case No. 22424/2026 B by Attorney-at-Law Sajeevani Abeykoon, Director of Law Enforcement at the said Authority, the Magistrate issued the arrest warrant.

For the trial held today, Chief Police Inspector P.M. Anura Gunawardena of Nittambuwa Headquarters, Chief Police Inspector R.M. Jayaweera of Anuradhapura Headquarters, and Sub-Inspector A.C. Dayananda, Case Operations Officer of the Anuradhapura Police Children and Women's Bureau, appeared for the prosecution. For the suspect Thero, President's Counsel Kalinga Indatissa appeared along with lawyers Hemantha Gamage, Kujana Banagoda, Shaminda Herath, Janith Mahasen, Himansa Samaradiwakara, as well as Senior Lawyers Ranjith Rajakaruna, Chandana Weerakoon, Ariyaratne Wickramaarachchi, Dhanushka Dahampath, Kalinga Ravindra, Madara Wijesinghe, and Jayalath Abeysinghe, among nearly 30 lawyers from Anuradhapura, who appeared in open court. However, it was also noted that 7 lawyers, including Senior Lawyer Swarnamali Anuradhanayake, Lawyer Sanjaya Ratnayake, and Sunanda Tennakoon, did not appear for the suspect.