Three underage girls in love become victims of statutory rape

By Sumanasiri Gunatilleka   

Four incidents of rape involving underage girls had been  reported yesterday from Buttala, Wedikumbura, Kuda Oya and Wellawaya  Police areas in the Monaragala District.   
A 13-year-old school girl of Katugahagalge in Buttala had  been abducted and raped by a young man and the suspect was arrested on  April 27, during investigations of her mother’s complaint that she had  gone missing after she went to school on April 19.  Investigations  revealed that she had been in love with her elder sister’s lover and  eloped with him. The 25-year-old young man had taken her to a lodge in  Wellawaya area and raped her for about a week and later at a lodge in  Avissawella area. Buttala Police are conducting further investigations.  A 15-year-old school girl of Wedikumbura in Monaragala  police area had been raped by her 17-year-old lover. Her parents told  police that they warned the girl to give up relations with the young  man, but she had eloped with him. Investigations revealed that they had  lived as husband and wife at a house in Medagama area. 
A police team  under HQI Monaragala Police P.S. Chaminda is conducting investigations  to arrest the suspect young man.  In another incident, a 15-year-old schoolgirl of Thelulla  in Ethiliwewa in Kuda Oya police area had been raped at times and  impregnated by a 22-year-old young man. When she complained of  stomach ache, she was admitted to hospital where she delivered a child.  

Investigations revealed that she had been in love with the  suspect young man since June 2023 and that he had raped her at times  when she was all alone in the House. The suspect was arrested by Kudaoya  Police.    OIC Kudaoya Police S.T.M. Riyaz is conducting further investigations.    Meanwhile an individual who raped his 12-year-old daughter  was taken into custody by Wellawaya Police. The 47-year-old suspect was  produced in court and remanded till May 07. Police had initiated  investigations on information received through the police emergency  service 119 and arrested him.   
The victim told police that her father took her to a room  when she was all alone in the house and raped her. She revealed it to a  friend who informed the police emergency service.   
 OIC Wellawaya police T.M.Karunatileka is conducting further investigations.