Venerable Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, a prominent monk from Anuradhapura who is in remand custody over the alleged sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl, was transferred to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka on Thursday morning while receiving treatment under medical supervision.
The transfer from a private hospital in Colombo to the National Hospital took place around 10:30 a.m., in accordance with an order issued by Magistrate Pasan Amarasena on Wednesday (May 13).
When the case was taken up through a motion on Wednesday, the Magistrate ordered that Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thera be further remanded until May 22.
The order was issued after Magistrate Pasan Amarasena personally visited the suspect monk at the private hospital where he was undergoing treatment and observed his condition.
The Magistrate also directed that the suspect be transferred to the National Hospital based on medical recommendations.
Meanwhile, the mother of the 15-year-old girl, who was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting the alleged sexual abuse of her daughter by the suspect monk, has been remanded until May 15 under an order issued by Siyapath Sasindu Wickramaratne.
The case is scheduled to be taken up again before the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate’s Court on Friday (May 15).
