In Sri Lanka, police officers beat Catholic priest

Roman Catholic Church priest who suffered after police attack in Sri Lanka. Photo: Tribune Сhretienne

On January 24, 2026, in Gampaha district in Sri Lanka, six police officers beat a Catholic priest of the Roman Catholic Church. The victim was hospitalized, and all participants in the incident were subsequently taken into custody, reports Tribune Chretienne.

The incident involves 33-year-old Father Milan Priyadarshana, a priest of the Christian community, who was heading to a church service. According to his testimony, he was chased by police officers, then surrounded before being beaten, despite the fact that he identified himself as a clergyman.

The six officers involved belong to the operational motorcycle unit of the Criminal Investigation Department in the Gampaha division. They consist of three sergeants and three police officers. Brought before the Gampaha Magistrates' Court on Monday, January 26, they were remanded in custody until Thursday, January 29. Police authorities have also announced their administrative suspension. The police state that the incident occurred after the priest continued driving despite police orders.

The incident caused a resonance in the country's Christian community. During Father Milan Priyadarshana's hospitalization, he was visited by representatives of the RCC, and a silent solidarity action took place in the city of Negombo with the participation of priests and nuns.

The Catholic Church of Sri Lanka announced its intention to appeal to the Supreme Court with a petition for the protection of fundamental rights, emphasizing that an attack on a Christian priest by law enforcement representatives raises serious concerns regarding the situation of religious minorities and the state's obligation to ensure their safety.

Earlier, the UOJ wrote that in Nigeria, Islamists killed 13 Christians.

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