An anonymous letter addressed to the Inspector General of Police has alleged that attempts are being made to undermine the investigation of the murder of former Red Cross worker holidaying in Tangalle.

Sampath Chandrapushpa, the chairman of the local Pradeshiya Sabha, who was detained after handing himself in, is under the "patronage of a powerful politician" who has "vested interested to undermine the investigation" the letter alleges. Accusing Chandrapushpa of a catalogue of previous crimes in Tangalle, the letter adds that attempts are being made to tamper evidence.

The letter, written by a group of people calling themselved the 'law abiding citizens of Tangalle has been copied to the Attorney General, the secretaries of political parties, the MPs of the Hambantota District and the British High Commissioner.

The UNP MP for Hambantota, Dilip Wedaarachchi, accused Chandrapushpa and his associates of terrorising the local area and jeapordising Tangalle's tourism industry.

“Is this the way Sri Lanka is being made the wonder of Asia?” he asked.

A 27-year-old Briton, Kuram Shaikah Zaman, was murdered on Christmas Day after being struck by a sharp object and shot at in a restaurant. His Russian partner, Victoria Alexandrovnaw also received bullet injuries and is currently an in-patient at hospital.

Zaman, who had previously worked for the International Red Cross in Gaza and Israeli Arab in origin, was allegedly trying to diffuse a restaurant row when he was attacked.