Sri Lanka’s Buddhist hierarchy has suspended a prominent senior monk, Pallegama Hemarathana, over allegations of sexually abusing a child, marking the highest-profile case of its kind involving a local clergyman in the religiously conservative nation.

The rare disciplinary action saw the 71-year-old Hemarathana stripped of his responsibilities as the chief custodian of a highly venerated Ficus plant, which is believed to have grown from a sapling of the tree that sheltered the Buddha.

The Council of Monks of the Malwatte Chapter announced the suspension on Saturday, stating it would remain in effect until the conclusion of legal proceedings against him. Police had arrested Hemarathana on May 9 following accusations that he sexually abused an 11-year-old girl in 2022 at the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple in Anuradhapura.

Hemarathana was detained while receiving treatment at a private hospital in the capital, Colombo, as a criminal investigation unfolded. Authorities also arrested the victim’s mother for alleged aiding and abetting. Hemarathana has since been granted bail, and a court has imposed a travel ban on him.

The Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi temple is a significant pilgrimage site, drawing thousands of visitors daily who come to pay homage at the tree, which Buddhists associate with the sacred Ficus under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. The suspension occurred on the same day Sri Lanka was celebrating Vesak, a major Buddhist festival commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of the Buddha.

While Sri Lanka has seen several cases of clergy members accused of abusing children, Hemarathana's case stands out due to his senior position within the monastic community. This contrasts with a separate incident last month where 22 monks were arrested at Colombo’s international airport with 110kg of cannabis in their luggage, the largest drug seizure at the facility. Those monks remain in custody but have not been suspended from their religious duties.

Legal proceedings are ongoing for Pallegama Hemarathana, with the court barring him from leaving the country. The allegations against him involve a serious offense within a society that holds religious figures in high esteem, raising questions about accountability and the protection of vulnerable individuals within religious institutions.

The suspension signifies a notable step by the Buddhist hierarchy to address serious accusations against a high-ranking member, signaling a potential shift in how such matters are handled. Further developments in the legal case and any internal church actions will be closely watched.