Sri Lankan Buddhist monk arrested in US over alleged solicitation of sex workers

19-Jun-2026

.

A Sri Lankan Buddhist monk has been arrested in Massachusetts, USA, on allegations of seeking commercial sex services, according to US media reports.

The 32-year-old monk, Mahayayaye Vineetha Thera, who served as a Buddhist chaplain at Tufts University since December 2024, was arrested during a covert police operation in Boston targeting commercial sex solicitation.

The operation, named “Operation Red Card,” was aimed at combating human trafficking and commercial sex trade ahead of upcoming FIFA World Cup events in Boston.

Police allege that the monk responded to an online advertisement posted by undercover officers posing as sex workers and agreed to pay between USD 125 and 400 for sexual services. He was arrested along with six other men at a hotel in downtown Boston.

He has denied the charges in court, and the allegations remain unproven.