The Simsbury priest charged with misdemeanor sexual assault allegedly touched an 18-year-old mans pubic area while administering confession, according to the warrant for his arrest.
The Rev. Edward Warnakulasuriya was arraigned Friday in Superior Court on three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault. He said nothing during the brief hearing or as he left the courthouse. He was ordered to surrender his passport.
Warnakulasuriya, who is from Sri Lanka, has been suspended by the archdiocese of Hartford. He has not been seen at St. Bernards Catholic Church in the Tariffville section of Simsbury for several weeks.
The 18-year-old man, who told police he has attended St. Bernards all his life, said he contacted the church rectory last year about scheduling confession and was told he could go to the church on Saturdays or make special arrangements with Warnakulasuriya, according to the warrant. He ended up going to the rectory for confession several times between Warnakulasuriyas arrival at the church in early 2010 and July 18 this year, shortly before he went to police.
In August 2010, the 18-year-old told police, he met with Warnakulasuriya at the rectory for confession. The man told police that Warnakulasuriya blessed him, then told him to lie on the couch in his living room. He then applied holy water to the 18-year-olds forehead and gave him some to drink. He then made the sign of the cross on the 18-year-olds arms, legs and lips.
Detectives served a search warrant at the rectory, then obtained a warrant for Warnakulasuriyas arrest.