Pedophile Buddhist Sanghanayaka Of Great Britain And The Sri Lankan Media
By Uvindu Kurukulasuriya
The former “Venerable” Pahalegama Somaratana, The monk with Mahinda Rajapaksa and The Thames Buddhist Vihara
He was “Venerable” Chief Sanghanayaka Thera of Great Britain and chief incumbent of the Thames Buddhist Vihara and also Parivenadhipathi of the Vidyaravinda Pirivena, Pahalagama, Gampaha and Chief Lekakhadhikari of the Sri Kalyani Samagi Dharma Maha Sangha Sabha. From the 1st of May he is just a Somaratna.
What happened
It is worth to look at what has happened to him. Here is a brief account of the story. In May 2010, Child Abuse Investigation Command officers in the United Kingdom began an investigation into allegations of sexual assault and rape against the chief incumbent of Thames Buddhist Vihara Ven. Pahalegama Somaratana.
On Tuesday, September 14, 2010 a (then) 64-year-old monk was arrested on suspicion of an indecent assault and rape. The monk had tried to sell the temple and escape the country, but some of the management board members of the temple had opposed the move. The monk still tried to escape. But he was questioned at Heathrow police station and later bailed pending further enquiries.
He was charged on September 12, 2011 and further charged on November 11, 2011. On Friday, September 23, Pahalagama Somaratana Thero appeared on bail at Feltham Magistrate Court charged with rape of a female under 10 years between January 1, 1977 and December 31, 1978 at an address in Chiswick and indecent assault on a female under 16 years between January 1, 1977 and December 31, 1978 at an address in Chiswick.
Pahalagama Somaratana Thero, had been charged with another eight counts of sexual abuse on Friday, November 11, the London Metropolitan police said.
According to the Metropolitan police, these eight indecent assaults on a female under 14 years of age took place between January 1, 1985 and December 31, 1986 at an address in Croydon. The 65-year-old Pahalagama Somaratana Thero appeared on bail at Feltham Magistrate Court on Friday, December 2 and was bailed to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on December 20, 2011. The monk denied all charges against him. The first victim spoke of ten instances of abuse in the spring of 1978, including rape and five instances of sexual assault with which Somaratana has been charged. When asked why she had not come forward sooner, the witness said Somaratana had threatened that her “parents would be angry and that her father would die”. Prosecutor Richard Merz told the Court the girl had been enticed into the monk’s room with fruit, Polos and told to sit on his lap. Later Somaratana is said to have cornered her in the temple shrine and raped her.
The second alleged victim, said to have been sexually abused in the mid-1980s, described to the Court that she remembered “being alone” in Somaratana’s room on the pretence of discussing upcoming temple services. When questioned why she had only come forward about 25 years after the alleged assaults, she told the Court: “At the time as a child, I thought that it was all an accident. Looking back on it now as an adult, I know that this was definitely not the case”. The Court was told that she went to the police after details of the alleged abuse were revealed during a hypnotherapy session three years ago.
Giving evidence monk Somaratana said that he did not remember the first victim during the time of the alleged rape and sexual abuse. He further claimed that as a monk he does not “touch people, especially women as it is wrong and considered a sin”.
When asked by his own lawyer whether he attempted to rape the first victim or touch her in an inappropriate way during the said time, the Buddhist monk’s response was: “not at all… no”. The prosecution brought attention to the statement that the chief monk had made in his first police interview, after he was arrested in September 2011 at Heathrow Airport. He had suggested to the police that the first victim might have got him mixed up with someone else and also that she may have said it was him due to the victim’s family having issues at that time with the monk.
The prosecution team stressed that this simply could not have been the case. With regard to the victim getting Pahalagama Somaratana mixed up with someone else, the chief monk himself confirmed that “priests in their robes were distinctive” and could be told apart. Further, the issues that he said he had with the victim’s family which would have encouraged the victim to accuse him of rape and sexual abuse, was confirmed by both the chief monk and the prosecution team as only having occurred very recently in 2010. The victim had made the complaint about Ven. Somaratana to her sister much earlier, between 1991 and 1992.
Pahalagama Somaratana, was convicted at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday, May 1, on four counts of indecent assault on a female under 16 years between January 1, 1977 and December 31,1978 at an address in Chiswick. He was found not guilty of the rape of a female under 16 years between January 1, 1977 and December 31, 1978 at an address in Chiswick and not guilty of indecent assault on a female under 14 years between January 1, 1985 and December 31, 1986 at an address in Croydon. He will be sentenced at the same court on June 1, this year. Despite this, some section of people domiciled in London were not willing to accept these charges against Somaratana. But now they are also in trouble, because of what he said in Court. One commentator said; “Mistaken identity was a really feeble excuse that the Courts have not accepted. By attempting to pass the buck to an unknown monk in this way, Bhikku Somaratana has not only tried to evade his responsibility, but also he has stained all other brother monks that had associated him and resided at those premises during his periods of tenure at those places. As a result of his claim, Sri Lankan Buddhists in London would now wonder who else amongst the monks that they know could be a child molester and rapist.”
Mainstream Sri Lankan Media
The victims were very brave ladies. But the mainstream media in Sri Lanka would not help get their story out to the world. The mainstream media have been censored from covering this case of child sex abuse. It was only The Sunday Leader and a few websites and BBC Sandeshaya that covered the story. This is clearly a public interest issue. Firstly, this story is about the welfare of children; child abuse victims are usually not willing to come forward, but they did. Secondly, this case is based on historical allegations. It is worthwhile for the public to know how Courts deal with historical allegations. Thirdly, Somaratana was a religious leader, who breached the trust of his followers. Finally, this same monk Somaratana is running orphanages in Sri Lanka. Why did the Sri Lankan mainstream media not cover this story? Why did they censor this story? Was it because of media suppression or are they under pressure from Sinhala-Buddhist fundamentalists? Editors of Sri Lankan mainstream media should answer these questions.
Sri Lankan Authorities must investigate his orphanages
According to “THE GAZETTE OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SRI LANKA -Part II of May 7, 2010, the Pahalagama Sri Somarathana Nayaka Thero Foundation”, a private Bill presented in Parliament by Hon. Vijitha Herath, MP for the Gampaha District, Somaratana can establish and maintain institutions for educational and social service activities such as childrens’ homes, elders’ homes, hostels and other social service institutions. Now Somaratana runs the Pahalagama Orphanage in Gampaha. Talking this writer the head of the Colombo based “Justice for Victims”, Visakha Tillekeratne said, “They would like to unequivocally request the Government of Sri Lanka’s institutions for child protection which are the Ministry for Child Development and Women’s Affairs, the National Child Protection Authority and Department of Probation to look into the orphanage run by Ven. Pahalagama Somaratana. A monk convicted of sexual violence cannot be responsible or trusted with tender young lives. This orphanage ideally should be brought under state control or be handed over to a respected and credible organization to run. In the alternative, it can be closed up and the children transferred to other orphanages. The state cannot abdicate its responsibility by the children of this country.”
“Children living in orphanages or homes are more prone to child abuse because of several reasons,” a former Chairman of the National Child Protection Authority Prof. Harendra de Silva said. “They are powerless and have no parents or relations: to whom can they complain? Only to the authorities in the home who are likely to be the perpetrators or linked to the abusers through monetary or power gain. Some are dependent on the persons for employment and are likely to be silent – ‘passive perpetrators’”, he added.
The power wielders in the orphanage are often abusive. Both physical and emotional abuse is thrown at the children and they would be terrified of such a person. There is often blackmail through denial of food and throwing them into dungeons where they would perish, etc. (In an index case in the Katharagama area, the head clergy threatened to kill four sisters and imprisoned them by putting them in a dungeon in the room that was covered with metal sheets!) He abused them all. In the same case he used to phone a magistrate, the OIC and officials in the presidential secretariat in front of the girls and tell them how powerful he is! He also asked the girls to count 15,000 /= from the donations telling them the OIC is coming to collect it. They have access to the children without scrutiny by others. Some of the persons getting employed in homes are people who are pedophiles and the same would apply to games masters, Scout masters and Hostel wardens and masters. However it must be stressed that only some may be attracted to these positions and not all. Ideally these persons should be screened before employment by psychologists and periodically reviewed. The children also have to be assessed with special emphasis on abusive episodes from peers and teachers.
So, the Sri Lankan government must investigate this pedophile monk’s orphanages and the Editor’s Guild of Sri Lanka should clarify why they did not cover this story.
uvindu@journalist.com
What a terrible story. It should be publicized as much as possible in the media.
Any pedophile, even if it is from the clergy should be exposed for what he/she is.
These disgusting people hide in their positions of leadership, while abusing the trust the public has in them. If found guilty this man should be given the harshest sentence possible. In any religion hurting little children is the worst sin, ever.
Simple , Afraid of WHITE VAN.
AGAIN AFRAID OF WHITE VAN MAN……….OK.
That is Sri-Lanka for you, thank God I have been in Aus for almost 26 years. Sri-Lanka has the most corrupt President in the world, Rajapakes and Mugabe are blood brothers from another mother, what do you expect? Even the clergy can get away now.
Uvindu K has given us a “Ball by ball” description of the case. Can he now tell us whether this is the first of such cases by a person “in robes or a cassock”, and if not, give us statistics and details? Will Uvindu also disclose his own religion?
Uvindu, you are a hero. True brave journalist!
main stream media….. so “the leader” accepts that they r not the main stream…but the Extreme…
In the UK games by monks are many, They drink, womanize and all bad habbits including homosexuality, They are perverts wearing robes and Buddhists venerate them. Day by day the incidents increase which would lead buddhists to
change their relegion. Not a single thero adheres to the buddhist concepts.
the same people who are behind him
will be like hounds on a fox hunt
if it was one of their children who got raped by this diabolical monster
I think Pahalagama Somarathna’s Gampaha orphanage not only house the children but also abusing them. Apparently you can “rent” the elderly children. Someone who gave the alms to this place noticed how depressed and quiet the children were. They were ordered not so speak to the people who are coming to give dana. specially older girls were. There are very powerful persons protecting the scheme therefore people are afraid to talk. Better to check this place to see if these allegations are true? but who would that against powerful forces?
What a lot of rubbish. Get your facts right Sunday Leader. People are now aware that your paper is thrash. Ethical journalism is getting your facts correct. This paper is a insult to Sri Lanka and its people. Rev Somaratna Nayake Thero – was set up by a few Sri Lankan Buddhists – living in the UK- who for their own gain could not get what they wanted. You people are a bunch of idiots – Go get your self a proper life. Even the comments you put are under alien names- dont even have the guts to use your proper names.
SO THIS IS THE METHODOLOGY OF SPREADING THE “GREAT MESSAGE” TO
THE WESTERN WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!
penumenma penawa meka walathayek waga
Well, this is a sad situation. If child abuse takes place, it must be properly investigated and action taken to save the innocent lives. That is a duty of not only the government and the concerned departments but also of the leity if they have good reason to know of such events.
At the same time, we should uphold justice. As per the above report it appears tht two people have come forward to complain.of events that have taken place more than 25 years ago. For victims to come forward with such incidents is not easy. However, if they had waited more than 25 years, and then complained, there also can be some other event that triggered the complaints. In that light, it is possible the complaints are not the absolute truth; for we live in a society where people tell lies for their personal benefits.
So though the government may initiate an investigation, it should be done in a sensitive manner, taking care not to psychologically harm the little children and not to start the investigation with an assumption that somebody is already guilty.
Hope we will be able to establish the truth with respect and dignity of all innocent parties upheld, until concrete proof is available of any guilty party, if any.
This should not be a platform for people to sling mud at each other; rather an opportunity to check and rectify any bad situation, especially affecting innocent children.
‘
this is exactly like the catholic church. must burn there balls the rats
Chandra
If you could freely investigate in the Buddhist temples of this country you could find much more than this.
I agree, you will find all sex toys and tools
Same thing apply to other religions too, just because few persons do these kind of things it docent mean all the Buddhist priest are bad.
How many Catholic, Anglican, Hindu, Muslim and other religious priest do bad things in the name of religion.
Do not blame ONLY the buddhist temples. This is common in the christian church too. Recent reports about pedophile catholic priest in the UK proves this.
In Christian/Catholic orphanages, Catholic school hostels, in Hindu orphanages and college hostels too abusing of young boys and girls goes on. I went to Catholic college, d I was in the hostel and I remember how a Chez Brother (Delasale) used to fondle an Anglo-Sri Lankan boy who had a fair skin and feminine. We saw one or two boys regularly taken out of the dormitory at night by a Brother. I was luck cause I was ugly , skinny and dark child. This was in the 60s and wonder where they are now.
Agree. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
How can they (monks) practice celibacy after eating such nutritiously rich food, which increase testosterone levels, and induce carnal (horny) feelings in the presence of young women and children. They need to get married and propogate their off spring, and take delight and joy in that. What falsehood is being preached and practiced in the name of Buddhism.
why just Buddhist temples?? investigate Christian Churches, Muslim Mosques and Hindu Temples as well..
Churches as well..
I endorse this.First start with the temples up country.
Chris your absolutly right,somany monks are miss using the name of buddhist values,and some them missusing young boys and they eat meat,and even they drink alkohol.
Why only Buddhist temples.Investigate the Catholic church its worst.If a buddhist monk is caught they have no place to hide.But the Roman catholic churches all over the world including Sri Lanka always protect their rougue priest.Almost daily there are accusation of all kinds against these catholic priest and wonder why THE Sunday Leader does not publish these stories
Once a young Buddhist priest quipped that although it is not acceptable keeping anything on a sacred book, it is OK to keep a sacred book on a sacred book (bana pothak uda bana pothak thibbata kamak neha.)
This shows that Buddism needs a dramatic reform and it can not go agaisnt the nature. Sex is one of natural feeling that every one without exeption have this feeling and controlling it is not at healthy thing to do. to be honest you can not control it today with modern foods Item and rapid human development. It is high time for Buddist people in the interest of their religion and children all over the world to reivew this habit and let the monks to marry as they wish and have children. This may seems radical ideas for traditions and beleif systems of some but this a reality. when we go agaisnt nature. nature bounce back and that is what happened and I’m very sorry for these monks.
If the investigation on Buddhist Monks are carried out many untold stories from many So called Temples will come to light, many temples are used as Brothels,
its Sad to say !!!
Taking off the monk costume ( in Sinhala Sivura), it would better to send the perpetrator to jail. These kinds of incidents should be punished in that way not to see repeating. According to Buddhism, believers respect not the person – but the sivurua. So, this kind of monks should not be allowed to stay as monks further – if the crime done by him is already proved.
Thies is not a new thing, cheild abusvie weidly spread in Sri Lankan Buddhist Templs,people befour against Muslims demonstrate must start woice against massive Cheild abusive.
This is happening all most all the temple in sri Lanka from many years.most of monk do not respect basic teaching of Buddhism .they only doing this to have easy way of living. l
it is time we stop cheating ourselves, majority of leity know the easy way to pleasure is to get into robes and carry out their clandestine dirty work, this has happened in the west like the 2010/2011 revelation in the UK of countless priests in robe abusing numerous young kids, when the kids now in their thirties and forties giving an account of the trauma of such abuse… in Lanka the priests are a bane on the country’s economy and social fabric.. this nonsense is enough stop the number of priets multiplying and eating into country’s national wealth only fortify their sexual powers and go on the abuse
To all those Buddhists, who think that defending wrong doings of monks is defending the Maha Sanga, please remember that it is your own children who will be at risk from these pedophile monks. It is not Christian, Muslim or Hindu children but your own children.
You may have looked the other way when Hindu/Tamil children were being abused but in this case may be Karma has prevented you from seeing that your own children are in danger.
Things that take place at other places of worship do not come out. What a world.
We know even ex-chief justice Sarath Silva also had some funny things brought by RAWAYA paper. Journalists and Prostitutes are same. Journalists by hook or crook wants to satisfy the readers where as prostitutes wants to satisfy their customers each and every nights.
unfortunately these kind of incidents bring disrepute to buddhism,people like ruwanwella sobhitha,somaratana.these guys are disgrace to the sociaty and country.
these guys always try to provoke their own people against other religeous people to make a drift with other community.its a sad scene.this is why srilanka is under the international microscope.pls avoid get advice from these kind of monks,,,priests or imaams,,,,want to leave peacefully pls listen to your self.
well said ahamed hats off
I believe this is widely prevalent in Sri lanka and simply the victims voices are unheard.
Paedophiles are known not to stop at one abuse . They continue this throughout thier lives . If this did happen it is very weird that he has stopped abusing children after this case. There is contradictory evidence given as to who raped who at the trial . There is more to this than meets the eye . ALSO the priest never attempted to sell the temple as the temple belongs to the management commitee. His passport was confiscated when he returned from SL and there was no question of him trying to flee the country without a passport !
The Srilankan media must take some blame for these kind of behavior by the monks. We are giving these monks total impunity to do what ever they want.
The time has come to educate the readers and let them know that the monks aren’t above the law.
An interesting question indeed why there was no coverage in the so-called mainstream press in SL? The lack of a response speaks for itself in anything goes SL.
Sri Lankan poor people are brain washe by these monks. they abuse and rape underage girls and boys. This is a well known factor. Hathara kendare palu unama munwa mahana karanawa. Eeta passe ape lankawe gonnu munta deviyanta wage salakanawa. I know there were so many girls and boys who were molested, sexualluy Abused and raped in our Sunday School. There are few underage Samanera Monks been admited to the Polonnaruwa Hospital for anal rape by a hig priest. Most Sri Lankan politicians also are child rapest. Therefore the government do not take any action agaisnt the monkd. They worship. There was a famous gay homosexual monk named Soma thero who died in Russia many yeras ago also same.
Definitely this bugger must have a link with MR & family.
Mr. Kurukulasuriya’s report is most welcome. I have one question. A photo of President Rajapaksa with the monk under suspicion of sexual offences is shown. But in the main story, nothing is mentioned about the President’s link to the monk. May I know, when this photo was taken?
This could be the work of LTTE to tranish Sri Lankan image in work forum. We must investigate the girls rather investigate the monk. We SriLankans are respectable and peace loving people. We never do such a low class act especially monks.
Why this writer asking for Editor’s Guild of Sri Lanka should clarify why they did not cover this story. Editor’s Guild knows the CODE OF EDITORIAL VALUE. Watch how other countries news papers safe guarding their motherland not critisizing the motherland. World’s worst journalists living country is Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Journalists and Prostitutes are same.
The first thought any one would get, if falsely accused, is that the accuser is making a mistake and not making a false accusation. How can that be a feeble excuse?
This monk may well be guilty of the charges and this will not be the first or the last time this sort of thing happens but this case is far from being convincing.
The writer with his example of a Kataragama orphange incident does not specify clergy involved belongs which faith but writng undrer the subject of a buddhist monk misleads the reader to believe it’s also a buddhist monk.
After reading the above article, I understand that there were three victims who have complained that they were sexually abused by the venerable monk when they were at 10, 16 and 14 years of age. Further, the 10 year old victim alleged that she was raped. The court declared the monk was not guilty of all accounts except for four counts of indecent assault on the 16 year old victim.
That is the whole story based on the victims’ allegations and the interpretation of the team of prosecutors. The venerable monk’s reputation has been adversely affected due to some false accusations. It is high time for the monk to file a case against the first (10yera old) and the third (14 year old) victims demanding a substantial compensation for the mental suffering he is undergoing. The Buddhists in that locality should give moral support to this venerable monk.
Sri Lankan media has more interesting stories to publish rather than so called indecent sexual assaults allegedly performed by a monk 35 years ago.
Again and again, repeatedly highlighting this episode, what sort of cruel satisfaction these writers aim to gain. If the aim is to discredit the Buddhist priests, they may have achieved their goal to a certain extent in this case.