JHU Buddhist monk accused of sexually abusing child monks

[TamilNet, Saturday, 19 March 2011, 14:04 GMT]
Buddhist monk and former parliamentarian representing Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) party of Sri Lanka, Aparekke Punnananda Thero, is accused of sexual abusing five underage novice monks, reported BBC Sinhala Service Friday. The Child Protection Authority (CPA) of the island produced two novice monks allegedly abused before the Colombo Magistrates Court and the court ordered the SL police to produce the other three child monks also, after the magistrate hearing the secret statements of the two child monks in her chambers. The CPA earlier informed the court that the suspect has admitted sexually abusing child monks under his custody.

The magistrate also ordered the authorities to submit a report whether there are any other underage novice monks in the Budhhist temple where the suspect is the chief incumbent.

The suspect appeared before the court on Friday with security provided by the Ministerial Security Division.