Vijitha Naotunne, 68, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday dressed in traditional orange robes, after being charged with 13 offences dating back to the mid-1990s.
He is the chief incumbent at the Dhamma Sarana Sri Lankan Buddhist temple, in Melbourne's southeast, and has run a Sunday school attended by hundreds of children.
Police will allege he sexually abused three child victims between 1996 and 2004, whom he met through his work at the temple in Keysborough.
Naotunne was charged by Sexual Crimes Squad detectives on Wednesday with 13 offences, including sexual penetration of a child under 16 years and indecent act with a child under 16.
He was silent as he sat behind his lawyer for the brief hearing, where new court dates were set for the matter.
Naotunne, who is yet to enter a plea, was asked to stand by the magistrate as she extended his bail until his next court appearance in November.
He arrived in Australia in 1993 and served as resident monk at a Springvale temple, before moving to the Keysborough temple in 2001, according to Dhammma Sarana's website.
Naotunne provides regular Buddhist services at the temple, including "a very successful Sunday School", which is attended by more than 300 children.
"His rapport and popularity with children has been exceptionally noteworthy," the website said.
He has received a number of awards over the years for his service, including Chief Sanghanayaka for Australia by the Ramanna Nikaya, a major Buddhist order in Sri Lanka.
Naotunne will return to court on November 10.
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