Sri Lanka, Oct. 3 -- A Kalutara Pradeshiya Sabha member was acquitted by the Kalutara High Court on charges of abducting and sexually abusing a 15-year-old boy, after the court determined that the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

The accused was indicted over allegations that he had committed the offences between December 1 and December 31, 2016. The indictment accused him of both abduction and grave sexual abuse.

During the trial, the defence maintained that the minor was a student of the accused, and that the accused had only expressed concern regarding the boy's close relationship with an older, unmarried man. It was further established that the accused had warned the man not to negatively influenc...