30 November, 2011 - Published 14:31 GMT

Adoption Ban on Prem Nivasa

A court in Sri Lanka has issued a ban on 'Prem Nivasa' Missionaries of Charity convent, Moratuwa preventing it giving children to foreigners for adoption.

The Colombo Magistrate Court issued the ban on the request of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) of Sri Lanka.

The NCPA told the court that there had been a large number of child adoptions to foreigners by the Prem Nivasa orphanage over the past five years which have to be investigated.

Investigation

The court ordered the Mount Lavinia and Panadura district courts to investigate and report on these adoptions taken place at the orphanage.

Police raided the convent last week and arrested Sister Mary Eliza, superior nun of the Missionaries of Charity convent on suspicion of her involvement in child-trafficking.

She was given bail on Monday

The police raid came after a report from the NCPA that claimed Sister Eliza was suspected of selling children under her care and other related abuses.

Church denies

But the Archdiocese of Colombo has categorically denied this; its website says money has never been exchanged for children. There are no charges in connection with this allegation.

A church statement said: "We never involve in selling these precious lives of the children and never take money for our work."

The church also accused the media of trying to stoke public anger over the issue.