India, May 24 -- A Sri Lankan court released on bail a senior Buddhist monk who was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a minor, in a case that has stirred heated debate in a country where Buddhism is the main religion.

Pallegama Hemarathana, 71, was arrested earlier this month on allegations of abusing a 14-year-old girl. A court ordered him to be kept in custody for questioning, but he spent his time in a hospital, citing health issues.

He was arrested along with the girl's mother, who was accused of aiding the monk in his actions.

A court in the historic city of Anuradhapura on Friday ordered both released on bail, police said.

Hemarathana is a high profile monk in Sri Lanka, the custodian of eight major ancient Buddhist site...