The National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) arrested Kelaniya Sudhamma Thera, the chief incumbent of Punyalankara Vihara at Ranmuthugala in Kadawatha on allegations of sexually abusing underage boys at the Ranmuthugala Children’s Home.

The NCPA said the monk was arrested at the temple following a lengthy investigation conducted into a complaint of sexual abuse of two boys, aged 14 and 17, at the Ranmuthugala Children’s Home.

NCPA Chairman Udaya Kumara Amarasingha said the investigations have revealed that older children of the Children’s Home had procured younger children of the same Children’s Home to the monk.

The older children have been given Rs.1,000 each while younger children who were molested had been given Rs.500 each by the monk.

The suspect had also given mobile phones to older children.

The suspect had admitted the allegations in the presence of the NCPA officials and when presented to the Judicial Medical Officer of Colombo.

Colombo Additional Magistrate Kominda Perera ordered the release of the suspect on two sureties of Rs.300,000 each.

(Aruna)