By D. G. Sugathapala

An exorcist suspected of sexually abusing a 16-year-old schoolgirl was remanded yesterday by Galle Additional Magistrate Pavithra Sanjeewani Pathirana. The suspect was an Agricultural Research and Production officer by profession and a well-known exorcist in the area.

Investigations revealed that another individual had introduced the girl to the suspect who visited her house and told her mother that the girl and their house were under an evil influence of a spirit that could be dispelled by performing rites. It is alleged that he had let the girl lie on a bed within the closed doors of a room under the pretext of dispelling the evil influence and sexually abused her. However, when she complained to her mother, the exorcist was caught and handed over to the Habaraduwa Police through the Police Emergency Service 119 by her mother and other occupants in the house.

He was produced in court by PC 24439 of Habaraduwa police.