The police believe that the actual number of victims could be much higher, though investigators have so far been able to establish eight victims.
Police investigations into the shocking case of an eighty-four-year-old ex-planter having sexually abused 14 underage girls in his children’s home at Mawanella, have revealed that and the matron of the children’s home, Kanthi Dassanayake, allowed two three wheeler drivers, too, to have sex with the inmates.
Sources said that the three wheeler drivers had taken the victims away from the orphanage on a number of occasions. The police are looking for the three wheeler drivers. It is believed that the victims may have been forced to have sex with many others.
Asked whether the victims had been medically examined since an investigation got underway on a directive given by the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) about a week ago, the police said that Judicial Medical Officer, Kegalle, Dr. Channa Perera had confirmed that eight of the 12 girls had been sexually abused. Sources said that they had been both sexually abused by the ex-planter, three wheeler drivers and their associates, too.
The police believe that the actual number of victims could be much higher, though investigators have so far been able to establish eight victims.
The police investigation got underway only after the closure of the facility and the transfer of the victims to three orphanages at Eheliyagoda, Embilipitiya and Kegalle.
The suspect E. R. W. K.W. M. R. M. W. Meddawatte and the matron of the orphanage Kanthi Dassanayake were remanded till Aug 8.
The suspect established the orphanage in 2006. However, due to some administrative problems, the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council ordered it closed last March.
(Island)