Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate has ordered former Chief Custodian and Head Prelate of the eight sacred Buddhist sites (Atamasthana), Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, to provide a blood sample for DNA testing in connection with an ongoing investigation into the alleged sexual abuse of a minor girl.
The court directed the monk to appear before the Government Analyst’s Department on 16 June and submit a blood sample for forensic examination. The sample will be compared with biological evidence already recovered during the investigation.
According to police submissions, forensic analysis confirmed the presence of DNA material on recovered clothing, prompting investigators to seek a court order compelling the suspect to provide a blood sample for comparison.
On 09 May 2026, Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, the 71-year-old Chief Prelate and custodian of the Atamasthana in Anuradhapura, was arrested over allegations of the repeated rape and sexual abuse of a minor girl.
The monk, who was previously remanded in custody in relation to the case, has since been released under strict bail conditions.
The case has drawn significant public attention due to the seniority of the accused and the grave nature of the allegations. As one of the most prominent Buddhist religious figures in Anuradhapura, the accusations have raised serious concerns about accountability within Sri Lanka’s influential Buddhist institutions.
Hemarathana is a well-known figure in Sri Lanka, responsible for overseeing eight significant ancient Buddhist locations in Anuradhapura that are revered by Buddhists globally. He has refuted all allegations against him.
The case is scheduled to reconvene in court next month.
Former Atamasthana chief prelate Pallegama Hemarathana Thera was ordered to provide a DNA sample in Sri Lanka for the alleged sexual abuse of a minor, raising accountability concerns in Buddhist institutions.
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