A Dhamma school teacher who was indicted for the sexual abuse of a 15-year-old boy has been found guilty and sentenced to 24 years of rigorous imprisonment by Monaragala High Court Judge Dr. Damith Nalinda Hewawasam on Thursday (30).
The accused, Urumuttha Gamage Chandana (47), a resident of Ethimale in Monaragala, was found to have taken the schoolboy to a secluded location on his bicycle in 2015, where the abuse occurred.
He was charged under two counts and sentenced to 12 years of rigorous imprisonment for each count. The sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective prison term of 12 years.
In addition, the court imposed a fine of Rs. 100,000 for each count and ordered the accused to pay Rs. 500,000 as compensation to the victim. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional one-year simple imprisonment, while failure to pay the compensation will lead to a further three-year simple imprisonment.
The prosecution was led by State Counsel Duminda De Alwis, while Attorney-at-Law Wasantha Bandara appeared on behalf of the accused.
