Sri Lanka's top monk suspended over alleged child sex abuse

Sri Lanka's Buddhist hierarchy has taken the rare disciplinary action of suspending a prominent senior monk, Pallegama Hemarathana, amid allegations of sexual abuse against an 11-year-old girl. The 71-year-old monk, who held the significant position of chief custodian of a revered Bodhi tree at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple in Anuradhapura, has been stripped of his responsibilities.

The Council of Monks of the Malwatte Chapter announced the suspension on Saturday, stating it would remain in effect until the conclusion of legal proceedings against Hemarathana. Police arrested the monk on May 9 following accusations that he sexually abused the minor in 2022. While he has been granted bail, a court has imposed a travel ban, preventing him from leaving Sri Lanka.

This case has sent shockwaves through the religiously conservative nation, particularly as it occurred on Vesak, a major Buddhist festival celebrating the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha. The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple is a highly venerated site, drawing thousands of devotees daily who pay homage to the ficus tree believed to have sheltered the Buddha.

While cases of clergy abusing children have occurred in Sri Lanka previously, Hemarathana is reportedly the most senior monk to face such accusations. In a separate incident, a group of 22 monks arrested in April for possession of a significant quantity of cannabis remain in custody without being suspended from their religious duties.

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The Council of Monks of the Malwatte Chapter decided today to suspend Ven. Hemarathana until the conclusion of the legal proceedings against him.