British Member of Parliament Simon Danczuk has stated that the Sri Lankan government may be covering up the case of a British tourist who was murdered in Sri Lanka on Christmas Eve last year, and called on Prime Minister David Cameron to boycott the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
Speaking as the anniversary of Khuram Shaikh's murder, Danczuk said,
“The deputy high commissioner has told me he fears that ‘political interference’ is stopping justice taking its course where Khuram’s killing is concerned.”
“Despite assurances from the Government that there would be a swift and straight forward trial this is going nowhere and ministers and police are sitting on their hands.”
“Every year thousands of British tourists visit Sri Lanka… and what happened to Khuram could happen to anyone. It’s not enough to keep building tourist resorts if there is no rule of law and tourists can be brutally killed for no reason.”
Khuram’s Russian girlfriend was allegedly raped in the same incident, which involved chairman of the local council Sampath Vidanapathirana, a close associate of the Rajapaksa clan. Vidanapathirana has since been released on bail.
Danczuk went on to say,
“David Cameron should think twice about attending this meeting while British nationals are being brutally murdered in Sri Lanka with local politicians implicated and their Government is not even prepared to investigate properly.”
British Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka wrote on his blog,
"But given the quick arrests and early assurances it is disappointing that one year on the case has yet to make it to trial. And while it may be legal, it must also be difficult for Mr Shaikh’s family to learn that the suspects have recently been released on bail."
