Fifty six clergy persons in prison, remand – State Minister

Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms State Minister Anuradha Jayaratne told Parliament yesterday that fifty-six clergymen are currently in prison and remand custody.

Among them, 29 Buddhist monks, three Hindu priests, and two Islamic priests are in prison and the number of Buddhist monks who are in prison on suspicion is nineteen. He also said that a Catholic priest and an Islamic cleric are also in prison under suspicion. The State Minister revealed that the Catholic priest is in prison on charges of murder. State Minister Anuradha Jayaratne stated this while answering a question raised by Matara District MP Dullas Alahapperuma. Among the imprisoned Buddhist monks, twenty-five have been charged with child abuse and rape, while three Hindu priests are in prison on charges of child abuse, murder and money extortion.He said that the three Islamic clergies are in prison on charges of theft and drug trafficking.

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