Catholic priest attacked by police in Colombo sparking protest by religious
Some officers were detained and suspended after Father Milan Priyadarshana was beaten while returning home from an evening service. This morning, the Archdiocese of Colombo organised a silent demonstration against police violence and abuse.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – The brutal attack on a Catholic priest by police officers on the evening of 24 January has caused a stir in Sri Lanka.
The clergyman, Father Milan Priyadarshana, serves as estate manager at a church-run farm in Kotadeniyawa. He was attacked in Gampaha, a city northeast of Colombo, while returning from a service at the Dippitigoda church. At the time of the incident, he was riding a motorcycle and wearing clerical clothing.
According to Father Milan, the suspects beat him and then abandoned him on the side of the road. The priest was later admitted to Negombo Hospital for treatment.
Following a complaint, six police officers accused of the assault were remanded in custody until 29 January, when they are scheduled to appear for identification as ordered by a court. Meanwhile, all six have been suspended from duty.
To express their opposition to this violent police attack and support for the attacked priest, Catholic clergy organised a silent protest this morning in front of the Negombo Municipal Council building that lasted about an hour, along the main Colombo-Puttalama road.
The event was attended exclusively by priests and religious from the Negombo area of the Archdiocese of Colombo. Those present recited the rosary holding signs slamming the attack that read: “We condemn physical and mental abuse" and "Father Milan, we are with you."
Father Jude Krishantha, communications director for the Archdiocese of Colombo, spoke to the media about the incident.
“We have gathered here to declare that the police have no right to inflict physical or mental violence on any citizen of our country,” he said.
“If a priest had to face such an unfortunate incident today, it is impossible to imagine what the citizens of the country will have to face in the future. That is why we have expressed our opposition even through a silent protest," he went on to say.
“As religious leaders,” he added, “we call on the president and all those who handle the law to ensure that the police do not allow such physical and mental violence against any citizen, not just a religious leader. Such wrongdoings must stop if our country is to move on the right path.”
“We strongly condemn this attack on one of our brother priests,” Sister Malathi Dassanayake of the Sadasarana Congregation told AsiaNews. “To show our solidarity with him, we are silently protesting at this place. We condemn any attack on human life, on an unarmed person, whether ordained or lay," she added.
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