SriLanka, May 9 -- The Chief Prelate of the Anuradhapura Atamasthana, Ven. Pallegama Hemarathana Thero, and the mother of a 15-year-old girl have been arrested in connection with allegations of repeated sexual abuse of the minor girl, police said today(09).

The arrests were made following an order issued by Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate Siyapath Sasidu Wickramaratne on May 8, directing the Nittambuwa Police to take both suspects into custody and produce them before court without delay.

The order was issued in relation to Case No. B 22424/2026, which was taken up based on a motion filed following instructions from the Chairperson of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), retired High Court Judge Inoka Ranasinghe.

The court had ...