Two indictments have been served before the North Central Province High Court against a former Army soldier accused of sexually assaulting a trainee paediatric specialist at her official quarters in a case that sparked widespread public outrage.
The indictments were handed over before North Central Province High Court Judge Indika Aththanayake by State Counsel Omaya Nagodawithana, appearing on behalf of the Attorney General.
The charges have been filed under Section 345 and Section 364(1) of the Penal Code, as amended by Acts No. 22 of 1995 and No. 16 of 2006.
Following the reading of the indictments, the accused, through his attorney, informed court that he rejected the charges and pleaded not guilty.
The accused was identified as K.B. Madhuranga Rathnayake, a resident of Galnewa New Town and a former Army soldier as well as a former Buddhist monk. He had previously been remanded for more than six months over the incident and was later released on strict bail conditions.
The Attorney General filed the indictments directly before the Anuradhapura High Court, treating the matter as a special case, without conducting a non-summary inquiry before the Magistrate’s Court.
A total of 42 witnesses have been named in the case, including judicial medical officers, senior police officers, personnel attached to the Women and Children’s Bureau, doctors and staff of the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital, and several civilians.
The list of productions includes a mobile phone, a knife, clothing items, a bedsheet, hair and blood samples, and a judicial medical report.
Judge Aththanayake fixed the case for trial on July 20 and issued summons to the first and second prosecution witnesses to appear before court on that date.
The indictments were filed on May 22, 2026, by State Counsel Akila Dalpadadu on behalf of the Attorney General.
