Girl dies after caning during ‘exorcism’ in Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Police in Sri Lanka said on Monday they have arrested two people in connection with the death of a 9-year-old girl who was repeatedly beaten during a ritual they believed would drive away an evil spirit.

The two suspects — the woman performing the exorcism and the girl’s mother — appeared in court on Monday to hear charges over the girl’s death, which occurred over the weekend in Delgoda, a small town about 40 kilometers northeast of the capital, Colombo.

The court ordered the suspects detained until March 12.

According to police spokesperson Ajith Rohana, the mother believed her daughter had been possessed by a demon and took her to the home of the exorcist so a ritual could be performed to drive the spirit away.

Rohana said the exorcist first put oil on the girl and then began to repeatedly hit her with a cane.

When the girl lost consciousness, she was taken to a hospital, where she died.

The woman repeatedly struck the girl with a cane claiming it was a way to drive out a demon that had possessed the child,

“The child had collapsed ater the severe beating she received. She was found dead on admission to hospital,” he said.

There have been a number of such alleged exorcism atempts in the area in recent years, police added, with some causing physical harm — including death.

The woman who performed the ritual on the girl was known in the area for offering such services in recent months and police were investigating whether anyone else had been abused, Rohana said.

Rohana urged the public to be careful about such services as the girl was not the first to die during such a ritual.

Recently, health minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi publicly consumed a syrup made by a “god man” who had claimed it would give lifelong immunity from COVID-19.

The minister ended up contracting the coronavirus and required intensive care treatment.