TRIGGER WARNING: This post contains details regarding child sexual abuse.
An Australian court has sentenced a Sri Lankan-born Buddhist monk to 13 years and two months in prison after convicting him of sexually abusing six young girls.
Naotunne Vijitha, 71, served as the chief monk of the Dhamma Sarana temple in Melbourne's south-east prior to his legal proceedings.
Judge Pardeep Tiwana condemned the offences as a serious betrayal of trust, noting that the monk abused his respected position within the community.
Background
In 2025, Vijitha was found guilty of 17 counts, including sexual penetration of a child and committing indecent acts.
The offences took place between 1994 and 2002 at temple locations in Springvale and Keysborough where families attended religious activities.
Court proceedings revealed that the monk repeatedly lured young girls into his private living quarters to assault them while parents were nearby.
Sentencing
Police first charged Vijitha in 2023 after victims came forward years after the abuse occurred.
He pleaded not guilty and cited health issues, claiming he did not remember some of his complainants, with his lawyers arguing that the alleged incidents did not take place.
Vijitha’s lawyers have also previously raised concerns about his health, telling the court that he suffered from dementia.
Deportation
The Sri Lankan-born monk, who holds Swedish citizenship, faces potential deportation from Australia upon completing his prison sentence.
Vijitha was born in Sri Lanka and entered the Buddhist monastic order at the age of 15.
After moving to Sweden and obtaining citizenship, Vijitha relocated to Australia and became a monk at the Dhamma Sarana temple.
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