http://www.documents.gov.lk/Bills/2010/Pahalagama%20Sri%20Somarathana%20Nayaka%20Thero%20(Incorporation)/Pahalagama%20Sri%20SomarathanaS.pdf
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14977807Buddhist monk charged with raping girl in 1970s - BBC
Pahalagama Somaratana Thera has been charged on four counts of sexual abuse, police said
A Buddhist monk has been charged with raping an underage girl in the 1970s, the Metropolitan police has said.
Pahalagama Somaratana Thera, chief incumbent of Thames
Buddhist Vihara, Croydon, has been charged with four counts of sexual
abuse, police said.
The alleged rape and three counts of indecent assault occurred in Chiswick, west London, in 1977 and 1978.
The 65-year-old from Dulverton Rd, Croydon, will appear on bail at Feltham Magistrates' Court on 23 September.
There was no immediate response from Thames Buddhist Vihara, which is one of the major Sri Lankan Buddhist temples in London.
Chief Monk Of Thames Vihara U.K. Remanded On Rape Charges
By Faraz Shauketaly
Pahalagama Somarathana Thero
Pahalagama Somarathana Thero, the Chief Priest of the Thames Vihara
in Croydon, Surrey, England was remanded by magistrates at Feltham
Court, West London, on Friday 23rd till October 16th.
The Chief Priest, 65, was charged with having raped a Sri Lankan female
in 1978 when he was attached to the Chiswick West London Vihara. He
further faced two other charges of sexual molestation. The Sri Lankan
Buddhist Community in Croydon, Surrey, England was engulfed in
controversy early this week when the Chief Monk of the Thames Vihara in
Croydon, was questioned and ordered to turn up at a West London Court on
Friday (23), to answer charges that he had sexually assaulted an
un-named woman. The claim is compounded by the fact that the complainant
has reported the Thera for an alleged assault she claims happened way
back in 1978.
Speaking exclusively to The Sunday Leader, Pahalagama Somarathana Thera,
the man at the centre of the controversy, denied the claims. Speaking
at 6 a.m. British time, hours before his appearance at Feltham Court in
West London, Somarathana Thera denied the charges, dismissing them as
spurious. He added that “these claims were going back in time over 33
years ago. I was not even in England at that time. I came here in 1978.”
The complainant maintains that this incident took place in 1978
When we asked him why these claims are coming out, he declined to go
into detail but said that it was related to the tussle for
Administrative control of the Vihara. The Thero said that the claim was
made by a “Sri Lankan woman.” Scarcely hiding his sarcasm, he added, “ a
good Buddhist Sri Lankan woman.” The Sunday Leader asked Somarathana
Thero if he had been charged. He said he was “not sure” if that was the
term but that he would appear in Court at Feltham Magistrate Court on
Friday (23) morning where a decision would be taken whether to proceed
against him or not. Somarathana Thero said that he was “being fully
supported by the Sri Lanka High Commission”. Attempts to independently
verify this information with the High Commission did not materialise.
Reverend Rahula a junior to the Reverend Pahalagama Somarathana Thera,
(65)said that Pahalagama Somarathana Thero would ensure that his
instructions to his solicitors would be an unambiguous: ‘not guilty’;
Reverend Rahula bemoaned the fact that in ‘Britain anyone can complain
about anyone about anything that happened a long time ago. In Sri Lanka
in most cases you are given 21 days to lodge a complaint. In this case
it is alleged to have taken place in London in 1978 – more than 30
years ago”
It is understood that Pahalagama Somarathana Thero faced one charge of
rape and two charges of sexual misconduct. He was remanded till October
16, when he will next appear at the Feltham Magistrate Court. A legal
source in West London indicated that the Metropolitan Police appear to
have convinced the Crown Prosecution Service that there is a prima-facie
case against Somarathana Thero to answer – hence the date in Court.
Temple insiders said that an “almighty” battle was going on for control
of the Vihara by various members and that Somarathana Thero had fallen
foul of one of its most illustrious sons – sparking off the complaint
against the Reverend. However, other insiders at the temple say that
these charges have nought to do with Administrative control and more to
do with the claim made by a Sri Lankan woman who was a young child when
the alleged incident took place. Sources requesting anonymity told The
Sunday Leader that the girl was subjected to the assault when she was
“very young” and that to ensure her father did not find out the facts,
had kept a lid on the story until her father had passed away. In the
absence of that predicament – wishing to save her father embarrassment
and social stigma – she had lodged a complaint after her father’s
demise.
The Thames Vihara in Croydon continued to deny any knowledge of the
Court’s decision to remand Somarathana Thero. A new recruit to the
temple, Dhammathilaka Thero told The Sunday Leader by telephone that the
temple was aware of some incident many years ago only after the Police
came in search of Somarathana Thero. “I am new here so I do not know any
details. They all went to Court and have not come back yet. I cannot
say whether my Chief Priest did anything wrong or not.”
Short URL: http://www.thesundayleader.lk/?p=47612
London Chief Buddhist Thero, 65, held by rape cops
http://colombotelegraph.com/2011/09/20/london-chief-buddhist-thero-65-held-by-rape-cops/
Posted by
Colombo Telegraph ⋅ September 20, 2011
⋅ 42 Comments By Colombo Telegraph -
Pahalagama Somaratana Thero with President Rajapakse
Pahalagama Somaratana Thero, chief incumbent of Thames Buddhist
Vihara, Croydon, has been charged with four counts of sexual abuse, the
Metropolitan police said.
The alleged rape and three counts of indecent assault said to have happened, in 1977 and 1978, in Chiswick, west London
The 65-year-old Pahalagama Somaratana from Dulverton Rd, Croydon,
will appear on bail at Feltham Magistrates’ Court on 23 September.
There was no immediate response from Thames Buddhist Vihara, which is one of the major Sri Lankan Buddhist temples in London.
