Crime & Safety

Case Continued for Priest Accused of Sexual Assault

The case was continued until Sept. 22 at Superior Court in Enfield.

The priest accused of three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, the Rev. Edward Warnakulasuriya, appeared in Superior Court in Enfield on Friday. The case was continued until Sept. 22, said prosecutor Debra Collins.

Warnakulasuriya has hired attorney William St. John from Waterbury.

A warrant for the arrest of Warnakulasuriya says he touched an 18-year-old male inappropriately after the man had gone to the priest’s residence for confession.

Find out what's happening in Simsburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Warnakulasuriya, who was charged by Simsbury police on Aug. 11, was made the administrator at St. Bernard’s about a year ago.

Warnakulasuriya, who is from Sri Lanka, has been placed on administrative leave by the archdiocese of Hartford and was ordered to surrender his passport at his first court appearance Aug. 12.

Find out what's happening in Simsburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.