Abuse of child by Thero: Collective statement calls for impartial investigation and justice

THE case concerning the serious abuse allegations against Atamasthanadhipathi Pallegama Hemarathana Thero is scheduled to be heard again today (22).

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This is not simply a case against one individual. It is also a test of whether the law in Sri Lanka applies equally to both the powerful and the powerless. At the same time, it raises deeper questions about how women and children are treated within our society and justice system.

According to the information shared by the girl, she is alleged to have faced abuse from a very young age. This would amount not only to a grave crime against a child, but also to a serious moral failure on the part of the institutions and social structures that should have protected her.

The huge imbalance of power between the parties involved is one of the main reasons why this case has caused such public concern. On one side stands a highly influential religious figure with strong institutional authority. On the other stands a young girl from a deeply vulnerable social and economic background, who reportedly did not receive proper protection even within her own family environment. In such a situation, it is natural that the actions of law enforcement authorities and decision-makers come under close public scrutiny.

Public concern has increased further due to the way the arrest process appears to have been handled. Reports that the police were reluctant to carry out the arrest order, together with the decision to keep the suspect in a private hospital even after the arrest, have created a public perception that the law may not be operating fairly in this case. This is why many people are following these proceedings closely and demanding transparency and accountability.

We wish to stress that this public outcry did not emerge without reason. It comes from genuine fears that power, status, institutional influence and unequal treatment may interfere with the proper enforcement of the law.

We cannot allow this imbalance of power to shape the outcome of this case. Whether priest or layperson, powerful or ordinary, no one should stand above the law.