Chief warden of Avanthi Devi Children’s Home arrested over reports on abuses

The chief warden of Avanthi Devi Children’s Home in Anuradhapura – identified as Amara Weerasinghe – has been placed under arrest, says the Police Spokesperson DIG Ajith Rohana.

The children’s home in question, which was complicit in several cases of sexual abuses and other irregularities, was recently exposed by Ada Derana ‘Ukussa’.

The establishment was operated by the North Central Provincial Department of Probation and Childcare Services and had nearly 60 girls under its care.

DIG Rohana said the police had made the arrest based on the statements recorded from 52 girls who were accommodated at the Avanthi Devi Children’s Home.

Claims levelled by the children revealed that their residential institution was frequented by outsiders for consuming alcohol, with the authorities turning a blind eye.

Investigations were launched into the allegations after confidential information was received exposing the misdeeds carried out by the same authorities overseeing the home, who were tasked with ensuring the safety of the children.

In the meantime, a 34-year-old named Nalinda Kelum Senanayake, who posed as a yoga instructor, has been also arrested on Tuesday (January 12), for allegedly abusing the girls at Avanthi Devi Children’s Home. He was subsequently remanded for 14 days.