While the majority offered flowers to Sajeevani, who fought alone for the girl in front of 28, some threw stones.

Have you ever seen a single woman bravely stand up before a massive wall adorned with wealth, power, and religious attire, in a court of law, which is like a temple dispensing law and justice?

This rare sight was witnessed recently when the case filed against the Chief Incumbent of Anuradhapura Atamasthana, Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, for abusing a minor girl, was called. On that occasion, Ms. Sajeevani Abeykoon, Attorney-at-Law and Director of Law Enforcement at the National Child Protection Authority, fearlessly confronted a massive legal team of twenty lawyers, including President's Counsel representing the defendant, as well as the influence of the Maha Sangha gathered in the court premises, and made a special submission on behalf of the victimized girl. Despite presenting an eighteen-page report with well-documented evidence amidst strong objections, the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate ultimately ordered bail for the suspect monk on two personal bonds of fifty lakhs rupees each and a cash bail of one lakh rupees.

The true victim of this tragedy is a twelve-year-old girl from a helpless family living amidst severe economic hardship. Forensic medical examinations confirmed that she had been cruelly sexually abused over a long period, sometimes being called in every three days, and that even blood-stained underwear was buried after the crime. Despite the girl specifically identifying the room where the crime occurred in the monastery, the items in it, and even the doormat used to wipe away semen, she and her family are now forced to cry out for justice in an environment of unimaginable pressure for an ordinary citizen.

This is not merely an isolated incident of abuse, but a perfect mirror that clearly exposes the nakedness of law enforcement agencies in this country. Attorney Sajeevani Abeykoon pointed out to the court, citing even international child rights conventions, that despite having specific evidence and analytical reports of eighty-four phone calls, the police deliberately delayed arresting the suspect. The fact that the Child Protection Authority had to "take a stick and go after the police" to get the suspect arrested shows how much the police have bowed down before religious and political power. The failure to receive proper answers from the Senior Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Western Province further exposes the corrupt and inefficient nature of the system to society.

The fact that this brave public official, who fought amidst all obstacles, had to face vile mudslinging attacks even before she could have a sip of tea after leaving the court, perfectly reflects the hypocrisy prevalent in society. The defamatory cyber attacks launched against Ms. Sajeevani Abeykoon's personal and professional life through individuals like Keerthi Rathnayake are the despicable behavior of forces driven to frenzy by the straightforwardness of the law. In a system that protects criminals under the guise of power, wealth, and religious pretense, the serious question remains before society: why do the relevant institutions and the government not immediately intervene to protect such honest officials who fight alone?

We must never forget that the day courageous officials like Sajeevani, unable to bear the pressure, become disillusioned and leave this system, the next helpless victim to be devoured by society could be your own child.