Two of the three who sexually assaulted the Anuradhapura girl have been arrested

A middleman businessman from the Dambulla Economic Centre was arrested on the 6th of last month by the Gampaha Divisional Child and Women's Bureau in connection with the serious sexual abuse of a 15-year-old minor girl on several occasions by three individuals, including the Chief Incumbent of the Atamasthana in Anuradhapura, Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thero. This arrest was made following a crucial statement given by the victim girl to the investigation teams, stating that this businessman was the one who sexually assaulted her for the second time.

The girl, who underwent a forensic medical examination at the Gampaha General Hospital, told the forensic medical officer that she was first sexually assaulted by the Chief Incumbent of a main temple in the Anuradhapura sacred area. She further revealed in her statement that she was then abused by a businessman in the Dambulla area, and thirdly by a bus conductor whom she identified as her boyfriend. According to the ongoing investigations, the businessman and the conductor, considered the second and third suspects respectively in this incident, have already been taken into police custody. However, the Thero is still at large.

Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickramarathna had previously issued orders to the Gampaha Divisional Child and Women's Bureau to promptly submit the case exhibits related to this incident to the Government Analyst and conduct a DNA test, presenting its report to the court. The Magistrate issued these orders to collect scientific evidence related to this serious crime involving a monk, a businessman, and a conductor, taking into account the statements made by the girl regarding the suspects.

The girl was first discovered by the police on April 27th last year during a raid conducted based on information received, while she was staying with the person she claimed to be her boyfriend at a lodge located in the Nittambuwa police division. The minor girl, who was taken into police custody at that time, was later admitted to the Gampaha General Hospital, where extensive investigations revealed all information about this serious sexual abuse and the main parties involved.