Orphanage manager arrested for alleged sexual abuse

The manager of a boy’s orphanage in Mawathagama area in Kurunegala district in North Western Province has been taken into custody for allegedly sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy. 

He has been remanded by the Acting Magistrate, Pilessa Magistrate Court, Gamini Rajapaksha on January 5, Mawathagama police said, according to 'Lankadeepa'. 

The suspect who has been remanded was identified as Christopher Fernando (55) from Kuliyapitiya of same district. 

Investigations revealed that a mother who was suffering with economic hardship had handed over her son to an orphanage through a nun. 

The boy had refused to go back to the orphanage having spent a short vacation and when his mother inquired, he has told her that the manager had sexually abused him during the past three months. 

Later, the mother had complained to the Kochchikade police who in turn handed over the case to the Mawathagama police for further investigations. 

There are 17 boys between the ages of 4 and 17 living in this orphanage. 

The manager allegedly used to show horrible pictures through his computer to these children, the abused boy complained.

Police have taken the computer which was used to show unwanted scenes into custody and they have made arrangements to conduct further inquiry by handing over the computer to engineers who are competent on that subject. 

They were trying to find out whether the suspect had abused the other children too. 

The victim has been admitted to the hospital for medical examination. 

The police said that the orphanage has been registered with the Department of Probationary & Child Protection about 10 years ago and is under the administration of a catholic father. 

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