The Court of Appeal has upheld the conviction and 10-year prison sentence imposed on a Buddhist monk over the sexual abuse of a minor boy in 2009.

According to the judgment delivered on 26 May 2026, the accused, Rev. Uduwila Sujatha, had appealed against the conviction handed down by the Balapitiya High Court in August 2023.

The monk had been convicted for committing grave sexual abuse on a nine-year-old boy who had been living at the temple at the time. The High Court had sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, imposed a Rs. 20,000 fine, and ordered Rs. 200,000 in compensation to the victim.

The Court of Appeal judgment noted that the victim had testified that the abuse took place inside the monk’s room at the temple in 2009. The victim later informed a relative, following which a complaint was lodged with the police.

The court also referred to medical evidence provided by the Judicial Medical Officer, who stated that the findings were consistent with the history given by the victim.

In dismissing the appeal, the Court of Appeal held that the contradictions raised by the defence were insufficient to undermine the prosecution’s case and observed that the trial judge had accepted the victim’s evidence as truthful.

Accordingly, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and affirmed both the conviction and sentence imposed by the Balapitiya High Court. (Newswire)

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