Venerable Pallegama, arrested under 'Police Security Only', remains at Nawaloka.

The case against Atamasthanadhipathi Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, who is accused of severely sexually abusing a fifteen-year-old minor girl, was re-examined yesterday (May 12) at the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate's Court. However, Prison Media Spokesperson Chammika Gajanaike stated to the media that the suspect Thero, who is receiving treatment at Nawaloka Hospital in Colombo, will not be produced in court today as doctors have not yet given permission for him to be taken out of the hospital.

Pallegama Thero has continued to stay comfortably at Nawaloka Hospital and has not seen the prison or the court. Police protection was provided until yesterday, but since there was no court order, it had to be withdrawn from yesterday.

President's Counsel Kalinga Indratissa, appearing for the suspect Hemarathana Thero in court, vehemently denied the sexual abuse charges against his client. Although a team of officers, including Nittambuwa Headquarters Chief Police Inspector P.M. Anura Gunawardena, leading the prosecution, requested the court to remand the suspect Thero again, the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate refused to issue that order. Accordingly, the Magistrate ordered the case to be recalled next Friday, the 15th.

On May 08, Nittambuwa Police arrested the relevant Thero at Nawaloka Hospital on charges of rape and severe sexual abuse. On the same day, an Additional Magistrate from Colombo, who visited the hospital, ordered him to be remanded until today (12). Additionally, it was ordered that the suspect Thero be transferred from Nawaloka Hospital to the Colombo National Hospital or the Prison Hospital based on medical advice. According to that order, the suspect Thero was scheduled to be produced before the Anuradhapura court today. However, the Prison Media Spokesperson stated that despite Nawaloka Hospital being informed in writing about the court order, the Thero remains in the same private hospital due to the lack of doctors' permission. He further added that he is not aware of the doctor treating the Thero.

Meanwhile, the mother of the minor girl who allegedly faced this abuse incident has also been arrested and remanded until the 15th. It is further reported that the relevant girl is currently being held at a child protection center according to a court order.