56 priests in prison on various charges –Jayaratne
CEYLON TODAY NEWS
By Methmalie Dissanayake -August 9, 2023
State Minister of Justice and Prison Affairs, Anuradha Jayaratne, disclosed in Parliament yesterday (8) that a total of 56 priests are currently incarcerated, facing charges ranging from murder, rape, grave sexual abuse and financial fraud, to treasure hunting.
This revelation came in response to a question posed by MP Dullas Alahapperuma. Among the imprisoned priests, 34 are currently serving sentences, with a majority of them being Buddhist priests, numbering 29.
Furthermore, State Minister Jayaratne highlighted that within this group, there are three Hindu priests and two Islamic priests who are also serving sentences. Additionally, 21 priests belonging to other denominations are in prison as suspects in connection with the aforementioned allegations.
In cases of child abuse, 19 Buddhist priests are currently serving sentences, while four are suspected of the same charge. One Hindu priest is also implicated in this category.
Regarding rape cases, three Buddhist priests are serving prison sentences, and another is held in custody as a rape suspect.
Murder charges have led to two Buddhist priests being imprisoned and another Buddhist priest detained as a suspect in a murder case.
For grave sexual abuse, two Buddhist priests are serving prison terms, along with one Buddhist priest who is serving time for raping minor girls.
In matters of financial misconduct, two Buddhist priests and a Hindu priest are set to be sentenced for money fraud. Additionally, three Buddhist priests are facing punishment for their involvement in treasure hunting.