Father Bernard Costa, 76, was killed Thursday in the vestry, said an officer at the Negombo police station. Negombo, about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) north of the capital Colombo, has a large Catholic population.
Several Buddhist priests and organizations in the past have complained about people converting to Christianity, alleging they have received money or other incentives. In February, a mob attacked a Protestant church, about 200 kilometers (124 miles) northeast of Colombo, injuring at least 30 worshippers.
Christians make up about 7.6% of Sri Lanka´s 18.6 million people. Buddhists are 69.3%; Hindus, 15.4%; and Muslims, 7.6%.
