Magistrate visits Nawaloka, examines Pallagama Himi, and transfers him to the National Hospital - re-remanded until the 22nd.

The Fort Magistrate in Colombo today (13) ordered the further remand of the Atamasthanadhipathi, Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, who is accused of severely sexually abusing a fifteen-year-old minor girl, until the 22nd of this month.

Before issuing this order, the Magistrate had taken steps to visit the Nawaloka Hospital in Colombo and observe the condition of the suspect Thero who was receiving treatment there. Subsequently, taking into account the relevant medical recommendations, the Magistrate further ordered that he be transferred to the National Hospital in Colombo.

However, yesterday (12), when this case was called before the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate's Court, Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickramarathne rejected the issuance of an order to further remand the Atamasthanadhipathi Thero. The Chief Magistrate pointed out that the order from Magistrate No. 08 of the Colombo Chief Magistrate's Court had not yet been received by his court. Furthermore, the Magistrate emphasized that he did not have the legal provisions to issue an order for a suspect to be remanded again when the suspect was not present in court.

Regarding the non-presentation of the suspect Pallegama Hemarathana Thero before the Anuradhapura court, the Superintendent of Welikada Remand Prison had submitted a medical report to the court through Mr. Prasad Prematilake, the Superintendent of Anuradhapura Prison. Prison officials informed the court through this report that the suspect Thero was not in good enough health to be transported to a distant area and that he needed to undergo several special medical examinations, which was why he could not be presented before the court.