Former Tariffville Priest Found Guilty of Sex Assault Charge

A former priest at St. Bernard's Catholic Church in Tariffville was found guilty of a sex assault charge brought against him in 2011.

Reverend Edward Warnakulasuriya, 54, was arrested by the Simsbury Police Department on Aug. 11, 2011 and charged with three counts of fourth degree sexual assault.

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.

Warnakulasuriya was given a suspended 1-year sentence and 3-years of probation when he appeared before Judge Howard Scheinblum at Enfield Superior Court on Sept. 19.

The warrants states that the suspect applied holy water to the alleged victim’s forehead and gave him some to drink. On more than one occasion, the warrant says, the suspect also made the sign of the cross on his arms, legs and lips.

According to the warrant, the suspect also had the alleged victim untuck his shirt and pull it up to his chest, then told him to unbutton and unzip his pants. After the blessing, the warrant states, the suspect touched the alleged victim near his genitals.

The warrant states that on another occasion, when the suspect was comforting the alleged victim, he kissed the alleged victim’s forehead for a long time. The warrant also describes an incident where the suspect touched the victim’s testicles.

Warnakulasuriya has been living in Newington since he was place on administrative leave by the archdiocese of Hartford.