Sri Lankan authorities arrest senior Buddhist monk Pallegama Hemarathana, 71, over allegations that he sexually abused an 11-year-old girl. Police say the alleged abuse occurred in 2022 at a highly venerated temple in Anuradhapura. The arrest takes place after an investigation into the case. Several outlets report that Hemarathana is detained at a private hospital in Colombo, where he sought medical treatment over the weekend while the inquiry was ongoing. The South China Morning Post describes the case as the highest-profile involving clergy in Sri Lanka. Other reports describe him as a senior or chief prelate of Colombo. Authorities have not indicated the outcome of any court process or specific charges in the provided accounts. The allegations relate to a minor, and the matter is being handled by police as part of an ongoing investigation.