The Final Verdict In The Case Of Pahalagama Somarathana Thero
Pahalagama Somarathana Thero pictured with President Rajapaksa
On May 3 this year, the Isleworth Crown Court convicted Pahalagama Somarathana, a high profile Sri Lankan Buddhist monk living in Britain, on four counts of indecent assault. He was on trial for crimes he committed more than thirty years ago, when he sexually assaulted a 9-year old girl. The monk was then 33.
Victims state that attacks took place over a period of time, where the girls were enticed by the monk with sweets. The court heard that one girl was attacked in the shrine room, another reportedly in the monk’s living quarters. The girl who had been assaulted in the shrine room was told that if she revealed what had happened to her, he would kill her father.
He faced nine charges of rape, and was convicted on four counts of indecent assault. He was sentenced to seven years in prison by the presiding judge, who spoke at length about how the actions of the monk permanently scarred the adult life of one of the victims.
Below, we reproduce excerpts from the sentencing remarks made by the presiding judge, with the names of the victim removed.
JUDGE MATTHEWS: You are clearly a young man of some ability, because within 3 years or so, you were entrusted with the setting up and
development of the temple in Selsdon, where from the start you were the chief Buddhist monk, and you retained that role over some 30(?) years or more. Simultaneously you’ve been central to the development of an orphanage and school, together with the temple in Gampaha in Sri Lanka, and you have a devoted following in both countries. However, within weeks of your arrival in Chiswick, you committed the first of four indecent assaults on a young girl, who was aged 9 at the time. The first three of these assaults took place in your room at the temple. The attraction for the 9-year-old was the offer of fruit polos. On the first of those occasions, while seated at your desk, you put your hand under her dress and under her knickers and touched her in the area of the vagina. Each of the two subsequent occasions followed a similar pattern but progressing to you penetrating her vagina with your fingers. The fourth and final occasion moved from your room to the shrine room. You were dressed in your robes, you pushed her against a wall, you pulled her knickers down, you inserted your fingers into her vagina. She felt excruciating pain. You said if she told anybody, not only would her mother be very angry, but her father would die. This crime, the fourth and final occasion, has been difficult for many to comprehend, the digital penetration of the vagina of a 9-year-old in the shrine room, in the presence of the Buddha. A betrayal of your religion, betrayal of the Sri Lankan Buddhist community in this country, but above all, a betrayal of the breach of the trust placed in you by XXXXXX XXXXXXXX and others on her behalf, not least her parents, who were strong supporters of you at the time.
You pleaded not guilty. Your mitigation is inevitably limited. The conduct of your defence involved pointing the finger of blame at your fellow monks. I make it clear that’s not an aggravating feature but it does nothing to assist your mitigation. There has been, even now, a total absence of remorse, you preferring, if the author of the pre-sentence report is correct, to allow, if not encourage, your public to believe that this is all a terrible mistake. I take into account of course the loss of your good name. I bear in mind the passage of time that has elapsed since, and the very many good things that you have undertaken during that time. However, it cannot be said that at the age when you committed these offences you were young and immature.
I take into account that you are now aged 66. And when I read all the tributes, the glowing tributes paid to you by very many people in places high and low, and indeed I heard many of them speak very eloquently about you during the course of the trial. I have read your personal letter to me, and I’ve read everything that’s set out in the pre-sentence report, and I’ve listened very carefully to the very able submissions made on your behalf by Mr. Stone.
The principles the court should follow in cases of this kind, as both counsel have reminded me, are correctly set out in a case called Hall(?), a recent case reported last year, and I am also reminded that when I consider the seriousness of the case, that a section of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, section 143, directs me to look at the offender’s culpability in committing the crime and any harm it causes.
When you said to XXXXX XXXXXXX that she mustn’t tell anyone because her father would die, she believed you, such was your power. And she says in her victim impact statement that she felt as if everything in her life had changed. She loved school, where she was already an outstanding pupil, but she was forced to spend substantial periods away. Her parents who, I repeat, were great supporters of you, had no idea what had gone on. Her (inaudible) doctors (inaudible) brought in a consultant paediatrician to see her. Fortunately for her and indeed for you, that particular crisis period passed. But as she got older and matured, she says – I’ve no reason to disbelieve her – that it affected her relationships with those closest to her, in particular her previous partner and her husband. And if truth be known, the full extent of the impact of your behaviour on her will never be known.
I pass sentence in accordance with the sentencing regime in force at the time of the offences, and the maximum sentence for indecent assault on a female under 13 years of age was 5 years. And in passing sentence, I bear in mind the principle of totality. So please stand up.
The sentence I pass in relation to count 1 is one of 12 months’ imprisonment, on count 2, 2 years’ imprisonment, count 3, 3 years’ imprisonment.
All those to be concurrent to each other. In relation to count 5, 4 years’ imprisonment, but consecutive to the 3 years on counts 1, 2 and 3, making a total of 7 years altogether.
Let this be a lesson to MP of India before the other alleged mass murderer is “invited” to “layfoundation ” stone/rod to the Buddhist University.
This is a great disgrace to sinking lanka, the prelates of malwatte chapters(including the late budarakita thero).
Hi…tomsamusa , You are a marvelous idiot and extremist to line-up an individual’s misbehavior against an entire community to fulfill your racial requirements.
Among any religious community the said monk type of mentally subnormal people are exist but don’t be such fool and racial to take one person’s issue to blame at the entire community. How come this becomes disgrace to great Malawatta prelates? If so, many years ago when Rev Mathew Pieries’ wife was killed tactically by himself would have been a disgrace for the entire Christianity, Bishop of SL and Pope John Paul in Vatican. Nice joke… :-)
You may dream till sink lanka but it will never happen like you all were waiting till Prbakaran build your dream nation.
IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. WAS NOT THE MIHINTALE HIGH PRIEST TOO GUILTY OF A SIMILAR OFFENCE. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE YOUNG MONKS IS WELL KNOWN.
BUDDHISM IS NOT TO BLAME BUT THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE DISROBED AND PUBLICLY LASHED
You could hold a pirith ceremony for this child molester, but they are a gang of pedophiles and rapists with skin head and saffron robes in the ever sinking lanka.
Inaddition I have seen many of these pot smoking skin heads trying to make up with nurses in so called bikku wards.
Your comments are distasteful and are a disgrace to say the least.Even a 5 year old kid could realise that you have a hidden agenda.I suspect that you have a sick mind and probably belong to a small group f people who are still trying to come to terms with the destruction of the terrorist outfit called LTTE and the death of its murderous leader at the hands of the SL defense forces,a fight lead by MR to the end. So get up from your slumber, wipe your eyes and embrace reality.
@ Sunday Leader- Give us a good reason why you decided to publish the photo of this monk in the company of the President at an official function.Do not tell us that you could not get hold of a solo photo. Your slip too is showing !!
Please note that the civilised community has woken up to condemn and call for
international panel to investigate the Genocide of Tamils.
Please note the frog in the well and bussiness as usual days are over.
It’s time to face the music!!!
Somarathana is not a member of Malwatta or Asgiriya. He belongs to Kalyani Chapter.
Justice served properly as he was in the UK. If he was in SL, he would have been protected by the political mafia !!!
I wonder whether this article is worth getting the head lines of sunday leader.
Culprits are there every where and in every religion. But my million dollar question is . As a human when the monks want to have a relation what he suppose to do? To leave the monk hood and get marry? What is the solution from Buddhist prospective.
If the monk has sexual desires, he should give up his post and marry someone over 18+. But he has no business to sexually abuse anyone under 18 years. That rule is for all.
Sunday Leader plays a key role in bringing corruption, criminal & social injustices to light than any other paper and even sometimes to be the sole opposition in Sri Lanka highlighting evils in the absence of a proper opposition that should play this role.
There is no doubt that conduct of Pahalagama Somarathana is condemed by most of us Sri Lankans that include a majority of Buddhists. He has got the punishment he deserves & most Buddhists of this country will not consider him any more as a person to be respected nor as a monk that Buddhists want to worship but a common crminal.
However, a question remains why a news item that is somewhat stale now after being published over and over in media reappears with the picture of the President with Somarathana Thero? It is obvious that Sunday Leader attempts to sling mud at the President. I do not agree the way he leads the country & very many things happening that is detrimental to the present and the future of our country. It appears that the purpose of Sunday Leader is not only to sling mud at the president but also to tarnish the image of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in a subtle way. Sunday Leader has been in this excercise over a long period of time highlighting incidents when Buddhists are involved but seldom of anything happening in the hidden world of Christian churches in the country including secretly assisting LTTE.
Sunday Leader’s heroic role to fight against corruption & its investigative role is much appreciated but not the subtle way it tends hit at Buddhism in Sri Lanka as the country knows the invisible hand in Sunday Leader’s effort.
Sunday leader is doing a great service to the decent citizens of sinking lanka and the civilised world.
The reason the pakse mafia bumped the former Editor of this paper is the terstimony to the abuse of power they were high lighting in their weekly editions.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK “LEADER”
Kumar – may I briefly commend you for your wise words, so eloquently put. Although I didn’t bother to write in such columns then, there were quite a few instances where Sunday Leader was quick on the draw to highlight alleged malpractices and misbehavior allegedly linked to Buddhism or clergy whereas the blatant thug force antics; such as the use of various ploys to lure poor non-Christians into Christianity by some Christian organisations or sects were conveniently swept under the carpet or argued to be nothing more than an innocent act out of compassion that endangers none. Even every child of school age knows by now, the scores of abuse of young men and women over the past 30 odd years by the Catholic Church in quite a few countries, such as UK, Ireland, Germany etc. where the Pontiff so publicly had to intervene and make drastic action by way of a ruling. I doubt whether you cared to publish details of these at any stage. I respect all faiths and have Buddhist as well as Christians in my family. But blatant misuse of the power of the pen is something I, like all fair minded people, abhor.
The President of Sri Lanka is offering flowers to this Hypocrite Buddisht Priest, These are the things that the President is very god at doing, and denying, if he can habour adultrous idiots of the faith in this manner what else can he habour, Deeds speak for it self, shame on him as Presient wher ehas he even made aremark, condening the rascal who has disgraced the fath of the country and the reglion so closely followed by the Presdient. Both are Hypocites adn so is the Paper if this is not Published.
Idiot.. how come president knew this crime has happened 30 yrs ago??? Isn’t that only the victim knew and no one else according to this article. Don’t be stupid to attack a person qoating a picture (in this photo digital age) and use your brain with the true facts
mutt…the priest is handing over flowers to the prz..and seemingly this was before he was charged at UK court…wake up and smell the reality..FOOL!
To be fair, one has to consider ‘false memory syndrome’ in this type of cases. The recovered memory syndrome has been surrounded by controversy because victims of past abuse have sued perpetrators, many of whom have been convicted on the recovered memory as the only evidence. Problems arise because memory is subjected to distortion and retrospective falsification. I am not sure whether there was any other evidence other than the memory of incidents that happened more than 30 years ago in this case.
Your asumptions are out right wrong and misleading.
My family was one of the victims of 1958 pogram against Tamils, orchastrated by the Banda’s regime. I still vividly remember the events ,from my late father getting beat up ,stat in Royal college “refugee “camp, to ultimately the four day “cruise” to KKS from Colombo harbor on the deck of a cargo ship.
Even though I’m in the sixth decade of my life, I could repeat every detail of the suffering and humiliation my family and Iwent through at that time.
Please dont play with words and trivialise the feelings of victims by abuse be it sexual nor beginning of genocide.
I did not try to white paint the monk, But you did not get what Dr Jayantha trying to say, as he said even you remember it could be distorted memory what you have remain the incident.
Dear Tomsamusa , The incident faced by your father (if it is correct) as Sinhalese we never accept and say it was correct. Moreover as Buddhists we never keep blame at entire Tamil community for brutal way of killing the innocent and unarmed Sinhala villagers by the LTTE cannibals. We are brave and realistic minded to filter and separate two groups of the Tamil community (terrorists and normal Tamils). This situation had proved when Tamils were safely stayed in Colombo while killing 1000s of innocent people in various parts of the nation by the LTTE. But in your case you are keeping your bad experience forever in your blood attacking entire Sinhala community which is an endless grudge. According to Buddhism if we keep the ‘grudge’ it will never end-up. It will always give bad outcome for own body of such people and the entire society. In your case you are trying to attack Sinhalese as a result of that. You are like some people who have fallen to the underworld due to frustration had occurred during the childhood may be due to family issues (either parents were separated).
The said Buddha’s lesson was explained by JRJ at the UN in 1940’s when USA wanted to punish against the damage done by Japan in world war 11. But as result of everyone was agreeing for Buddha’s preaching, today Japan is doing well and good with everyone.
For the incident your farther was faced, you cannot erect finger at only SWRD and entire Sinhala community but also you should blame at some of the former Tamil leaders who have eaten the broken rope of the British rulers who had misused Tamil community misleading by giving inappropriate level of powers (including government high ranks) against the majority (Sinhala) to maintain their ‘dividing rule’ concept. That is why SJS Chelvanayagam was asked for 50:50 and later for separate state by Prbakaran. We should resolve our problems through the discussions keeping the mutual trust believing each other. As Buddha said ‘we can expect a shade to us by using our own hand only’ (not by any 3rd person).
If your story about your father is true, I am very much saddened and apologize for all who did that crime though that was a crime which cannot be forgiven. Can’t we unite and find a way not to happen such unfortunate event in future and to make a peaceful environment for your/our children?
Mr. Jayantha….As Sinhalese, either you (or me) or anyone on behalf of our community shouldn’t apologize for Tomsamusa, because that has not done by Sinhala majority. That was an action of some Sinhala gang.
This situation is like as we are not expecting apologizes from Tamils for killing 1000s of innocent Sinhalese by a gang of mentally disordered called LTTE.
I agree with your other point as I mentioned above.
However it is ideal if Tomsamusa can explain whether he agreed the killings of LTTE ????????
Victim of this sexual assult and rape case has been considered by court to be a competent witness, throughout the trial, however, does not seem, any of the defence lawyers, had raised such an objection, along the lines `false memorary syndrome` at the begining of the case. Further more, there are no restrictions imposed on the defence tegal team to present evidence through expert witnesses to establish such a defence, during the trial to challange and the quality of evidence. Judge speaks about various evidence placed before court to mitigate the gravity, and Judge seem to agree that monk had rendered a great service,to both countries, while commanding respect from buddhists, yet, a crime had been committed, and trust placed by a devotee, at her young age, had been abused, and her vulnerability had been used for monks sexual pleasure, therefore, law requires monk to suffer the consequences for his immoral conduct.
you see , GOD never forbid people to marry , GOD made mandatory to marry , why individuals refrain from marrying , the creator knows about the creations need , so the creator instructed every individual male or female to marry and live 100% life , if nobody marry then they live 50% life and go in bad path , no teacher of any religion denied anybody marrying , they never taught but , individual group claim so and they do according to their wish for wims and fancy and they do this unlawful act . now the preiest’s too are caught in this act , WHAT A SHAME.
punish these priests as an eye opener for others .
Pedophile BUDIST terorist child fuc…s yhis is how budist behave,, rape kids when they go to tempels,
I am not completely aware of all the fine details of the evidence that were produced but to be fair it is very difficult to believe a statement of this nature coming from any person approximately 25-30 years after the incident. The question is why now? Why did she not bring the priest to justice 30 years ago as opposed to today? Also the victims involved are now nearly at the ages from 35 plus and 40 plus so it is surprising that the vicitms did not atleast bring this to the attention of the legal authorities in their early 20s! Whatever about the victims fear of the monk in their childhood, it makes no sense as to why the victims awaited this length of time to bring the guilty to justice. Surely one could assume that a complaint would be atleast brought against the priest atleast when the victims were in their early 20s as opposed to now! However a court of law has now spoken, so it is not for me to question its judgement!
OK guys. This priest made a glaring mistake & submitted to receive just punisment.
Yes. it was his moment of weakness.
Why does the SL have to publish such a report over and over again??
Catholic Church with tainted with scores of sexuall explisits by priest and Bishops knowingly hiding such incidents. Even the Pope is accused of sweeping under the carpet such incidents.
Incidents are numerous and fortunately for the Church through their power, they are able to buy over the victims.
England & enticised by a hidden hand polarising this issue.
Kindly leave this priest alone.
There is no comparison to the atrocities openly committed by the Church and that openly.
This priest has since behaved well and gone beyond temptation. He needs to be given another opportunity.
THOSE WITHOUT SIN CAN CAST THE FIRST STONE AGAINST THIS PRIEST IN THESE COLUMN.
As for this priest & others can say mea culpa.
I am not the least surprised of this priests disgraceful and indecent behaviour. It is a sad day for Buddhists all over the world – though not an isolated incident.
I come from a staunch Buddhist family. I went to sunday school and my parents gave land and money to build temples. Our house was given to the priests to reside during the “vassana” season, and four of those young “samaneras” are now high priests in temples in America and other countries. In early 70′s, I taught at the Vidyalankara University where I observed young buddhist priests and some gave up their robes upon graduation. Therefore, since my childhood, I had ample opportunity to see the utter selfish mentality of these priests, and unfortunately their unethical sexual involvements with boys and also with many women who devotedly support and worship them. The only priest before whom I have knelt down and worshipped was my sunday school teacher Rev Madihe Pannasiha.
The unacceptable sexual behaviour of our priests have been going on for ages, and will never stop. Sexual desire is a human need. You cannot defy nature. Putting a safron robe on a man is not going to make him an impotent saint.
Okay this was a case of sexual assault in UK and wheels of justice had been ground despite the time warp. But have any monks or for that matter any criminal been taken to court in Sri Lanka for far worse criminality like incitement, murder, looting, rape of helpless Tamils in times of riots at any time?
This great decision by educated non-political motivated judiciary system.thanks for the taking this action against such monk who lives hanging with yellow cloth doing many wrong thinks in the world.such monk really insulting to others who respect and follow the lord Buddha teaching.today look the society even now they claimed that they all can have ministerial position in cabinet and ready to take women affairs matters under their hand.these guys do not respect basic teaching of Buddha and take all the advantage from society.they must remove his cloth and give him jail jumper and send him to wash the clothe for others.we must not forget in the history in the country when such monks has to remove yellow cloths and worked in the project like building the lakes under great kingdom .today unfortunately ,just for cheap political benefits our leaders have agreed to all dirty thinks doing by these people covering to yellow cloths and their are responsible for many crime in the society.it is time to clear such monks for the name of great lord Buddha in order for us to have future of society.if this can understand what he did was wrong ,this the best time him to follow the basic teaching of Buddhism before he comes to society from jail.
Wow! finally a monster gets locked up. There are many more such monsters in Sri Lanka perhaps they should all be sent to temples in the UK where they can be prosecuted and locked up and the keys thrown away.
Why should monks get married when they can have mistresses? and still enjoy the perks that come with being a monk. I agree if this dude was in Sri Lanka he would have gotten away with it. ha ha good for you your Majesty.
If you believe that western judicial processes are completely impartial, that they consider all aspects of a case and are error free…. then good luck to you.
I too have to agree with some of Dr. Ranjith Jayawardana’s comments. Western judicial process is no more impartial to that of ours. I have lived in the West for over a decade and corruptions continues to exist even in UK and at times the corruption of the West is far worst than that of ours. Questions needs to be raised as to whether the monk received just representation by his lawyers. I am finding it extremely difficult to come to terms with the fact that the so called victims involved failed to bring this to the attention of the legal authorities till their early 40s??? Surely, one would assume that a sincere victim who was brought up and lived in the West would bring up a claim of this nature to a court of law at a much earlier age than 40? Western judicial process will only be happier to prosecute a Buddhist Foreign Monk living in western soil. Also it beats me as to why Sunday Leader has associated a picture of the Monk along with the current Sri Lankan president. Even if the monk is a peadophile monster it makes no relevance to associate the picture of the monk along with the picture of that of our current president. Monk held a position of high stature in UK (Chief prelate?) and it would be acceptable practice for Sri Lankan head of state to associate with the monk prior to allegations. It could be easily assumed that the SL president was not aware of the monk’s dark past at his time of visit to uk. To Associate a picture of the president with that of the monk is simply a smear campaign carried out by Sunday Leader towards the current head of state of Sri Lanka. If justice must be served surely one can not consider the association of the two photos as just publication? I personally will not vote for the current head of state due to personal reasons but that does not mean that I would necessarily support unethical publications by Sunday Leader against the current president.
300,000 ! ? WOW! there’s no war now but this number keeps going up! First it was 5000, then 10,000 after May 19, 2009 20,000 and one year later 40,000 and now the latest 300,000. Rajapakshe did sod-all to end the war in 2009, other than holding the position of President. So I’m afraid, he can plead not guilty. Hey, what about the 130 odd your comrades massacred at the Central Bank, another 100+ at Pettah and nearly 100 at Dehiwela and Sri Mahabodhi and thousands of villagers in Vavuniya, Kekirawa, etc? This is in addition to the bashing of babies on trees on the Anuradhapura- Puttuvil road to get the bus passengers out to be slaughtered. And, I didn’t mention some of the greatest leaders of this country and the Indian PM your chums massacred. Talk about justice!
300,000 ! ? WOW! there’s no war now but this number keeps going up! First it was 5000, then 10,000 after May 19, 2009 20,000 and one year later 40,000 and now the latest 300,000. Rajapakshe did sod-all to end the war in 2009, other than holding the position of President. So I’m afraid, he can plead not guilty. Hey, what about the 130 odd your comrades massacred at the Central Bank, another 100+ at Pettah and nearly 100 at Dehiwela and Sri Mahabodhi and thousands of villagers in Vavuniya, Kekirawa, etc? This is in addition to the bashing of babies on trees on the Anuradhapura- Puttuvil road to get the bus passengers out to be slaughtered. And, I didn’t mention some of the greatest leaders of this country and the Indian PM your chums massacred. Talk about justice!
Sagara, you have too much time on your hands in that third world dump you live in called SL.
Some questions that needs answers.
1) Why did Sunday Leader publish this story that took place 4 moths ago?
2) As some contributors have already pointed out already, why did this 9 yr old girl wait for 33 years to come up with this revelation? She is 42 years now, Could she not have spoken about this when she was 20?
3) Why did this girl went to see this monk for 3 more times in a secluded area after being abused the first time?
4) On what grounds did the Sunday Leader thought it prudent, wise, appropriate and decent enough to publish step by step intricacies of this former monk’s sexual maneuvers? Isn’t The Sunday Leader a newspaper for all ages and not a publication giving graphic details of sex ?
What was the reasoning behind publishing this story with a photograph of the monk with the President? Like majority of people who aren’t asleep, I too despise the way this country is dictatorially run by this President and his henchmen to the benefit of only themselves: through thuggery, corruption, fear and hardship to all sectors. But, in this instance I, like many, will come to the defense of the President, who is blatantly insulted by Sunday Leader.
Religion- the opium of the masess
Do we really have to put up with this poo. Starting from , Muslim Imaams, Catholic Priests , Monks the lot. Lock the kiddy fiddlers in a dark room and throw away the keys. I’m sure they’ll have something to keep them selves busy.
Dr Wije you said What does Sunday Leader mean — Ignorance and fraud go hand in hand.( head of state impunity is not for the 3rd house anywhere no not in the west and that makes it great…. watch duchess of cambridge?? keep your private parts private when holding position mate!!!!
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone, and another one gone
There are plenty of ways you can hurt a man
And bring him to the ground
You can beat him
You can cheat him
You can treat him bad and leave him
When he’s down
But I’m ready, yes I’m ready for you
I’m standing on my own two feet
“Hey, I’m gonna get you too”
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
“Hey, I’m gonna get you too”
QUEEN!!!