Court order for Palleagama Hemarathana Thero's DNA test

Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasindu Wickramarathne has ordered former Atamasthanadhipathi Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, who is accused in a case of severe abuse of a minor girl, to provide blood samples for a DNA test. According to this order issued today (12), the suspect Thero must go to the Government Analyst's Department on the upcoming June 16th and provide his blood samples to the Government Analyst.

The Chief Magistrate issued this order after considering the facts contained in a further report submitted to the court by Nittambuwa Police. The police informed the court that, according to a previous court order, on May 4, 2026, the case exhibits related to the incident were sent to the Government Analyst for a DNA test. Several clothes, suspected to be stained with blood, which were found buried and hidden by the girl who was allegedly abused, have been examined as case exhibits.

During the scientific examination conducted by the Government Analyst regarding the said clothes, the police stated before the court that it has been officially confirmed that "DNA alleles are present" in the girl's clothes. The police explained to the court the necessity of obtaining the suspect Thero's blood in order to compare the DNA allele pattern revealed by the analyst's report with his blood samples. Accordingly, the Magistrate granted permission to the police's request to issue the necessary orders to scientifically ascertain whether the DNA pattern on the clothes and the suspect's blood samples match, and also ordered the Government Analyst to submit the DNA report to the court after the examination.

The former Atamasthanadhipathi Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, who is the main accused in the case of abusing this minor girl, was previously remanded and later released on strict bail conditions. Based on this criminal charge, the Atamasthanadhipathi position and the Chief Sanghanayake of Nuwarakalawiya title held by the suspect Thero have been suspended with effect from the last Vesak Full Moon Poya Day.

In the investigation of such serious crimes, the most powerful evidence used to scientifically confirm a suspect's direct involvement is the DNA test. Since the DNA allele pattern, an alternative form of a gene, is unique and specific to every person in the world except identical twins, this test will involve a direct comparison between the DNA pattern of the biological samples found on the clothes hidden by the girl and the DNA pattern obtained from the suspect Thero's blood.

Although statements or information provided by witnesses can usually change due to various influences, DNA is a permanent biological evidence that cannot be altered in any way. If the DNA samples on the clothes and the DNA in the suspect's blood match 100%, it will undoubtedly confirm that the suspect was physically connected with the victim girl at the time the crime occurred. This analyst's report will be a crucial factor in proving the charges against the suspect beyond a reasonable doubt in the upcoming court proceedings, and if the DNA samples do not match, this test will be equally important in exonerating the suspect.