Pallagama Thero's DNA report released

Government Attorney Keshanie Wijesinghe stated that the Attorney General's Department is paying close attention to and supervising the police investigations being conducted against former Atamasthanadhipathi Pallegama Hemarathana Thero regarding the serious sexual abuse of a minor girl. She made this statement while appearing on behalf of the Attorney General when the case was called before the Anuradhapura Magistrate's Court yesterday (26).

There, the Chief Magistrate inquired from the Nittambuwa Headquarters Police about the current status of the relevant investigations.

Responding to this, Nittambuwa Headquarters Chief Police Inspector P.M. Anura Gunawardena informed the court that the first DNA test report related to this criminal offense has already been received by the police. He further stated that the second DNA report related to the incident is also expected to be received in the near future.

Showing further progress in the investigations, the Chief Police Inspector pointed out that the analysis reports (Call Detail Analysis Reports) related to the mobile phones of the suspect Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, as well as the victim girl and her mother, have been obtained and already submitted to the court. Meanwhile, President's Counsel Kalinga Indratissa, appearing on behalf of the suspect Thero, stated before the court that since preliminary investigations into this incident are still ongoing, he would not make any special submissions at this moment.

After considering all the facts presented, the Chief Magistrate of Anuradhapura ordered that the Attorney General's advice be obtained expeditiously for taking further legal action related to this incident. The Nittambuwa Headquarters Chief Police Inspector was ordered to act accordingly.

The case is scheduled to be called again on August 21st. The Magistrate ordered the police to submit a full report including the current progress of the investigations on that day, and also issued orders for the suspect Pallegama Hemarathana Thero and the victim girl's mother to appear before the court on the said date.