COLOMBO, June 16 -- Pallegama Hemarathana Thera, the former Chief Custodian and Head Prelate of the eight sacred Buddhist sites (Atamasthana) in Anuradhapura, on Tuesday (16), provided a blood sample to the Department of the Government Analyst as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations involving the abuse of a minor girl.

The sample was obtained after the monk was produced before the Government Analyst by officers attached to the Nittambuwa Police, acting on an order issued by the Anuradhapura Chief Magistrate's Court.

The court directive required the monk to submit a blood sample on June 16 to facilitate DNA analysis and instructed the Government Analyst to submit a report to the court upon completion of the examination.

The...