The case against a chief monk and his brother, accused of drugging an 11-year-old novice monk and committing aggravated sexual abuse, was ordered to be recalled on 29 October.
Hingurakgoda Magistrate Duminda Prashasthi Karunaratna also ordered the Polonnaruwa Divisional Crimes Investigation Unit to submit to the court the Government Analyst’s report on several call recordings. These recordings allegedly capture the suspect monk exploiting the novice monk.
Furthermore, the court ordered the submission of the judicial medical report from the medical examination conducted on the victimized novice monk. These orders were issued when the case was taken up again at the Hingurakgoda Magistrate’s Court.
The suspects in this case, currently released on bail, are Sirikanduyaye Vipassi, a 35-year-old monk and the chief incumbent of the Sri Vijayarama Ananda Nikethana Pirivena in Medirigiriya, and his 26-year-old brother, Sanjeewa Gayan, who serves as the monk’s driver. They were previously held in remand for over a month before being granted bail.
In its initial submissions, the Polonnaruwa Divisional Crimes Investigation Unit stated that investigations revealed the 11-year-old complainant was residing at the Sri Vijayarama Ananda Nikethana Pirivena in Medirigiriya. During his stay, the suspect chief monk and his brother, who worked as his driver, subjected the novice monk to sexual torture and assault.
The investigation was transferred to the Polonnaruwa Divisional Crimes Investigation Unit due to the Meegaswewa Police’s failure to conduct a proper inquiry. This was done on the orders of the then Senior Deputy Inspector General in charge of the North Central Province and current Acting Inspector General of Police Priyantha Weerasuriya.
The complainant, who suffered severe mental trauma, has since left the monastic life. Officers from the Polonnaruwa Divisional Crimes Investigation Unit appeared for the prosecution. An attorney, instructed by lawyer Samitha Jayasekara, appeared for the rights of the aggrieved party, while lawyer Ranil Weerasekara appeared for the suspects. (Courtesy: Mawbima (7/8/2025))
