Six people charged with murdering British tourist Khuram Shaikh were granted bail on Friday.
The suspects, including the chairman of Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha, Sampath Vidanapathiranage, pleaded not guilty to the charges including the killing of Shaikh on Christmas Eve 2011, and sexually assaulting his partner.
The trial is expected to take place on December 2nd.
The BBC reports Sri Lankan authorities as saying that the case was being 'fast-tracked' and the usual preliminary inquiry was being skipped. The case has also been transferred from Tangalle to Colombo, reportedly due to international pressure to expedite the trial.
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