A Sri Lankan politician with the ruling party and three other men have been jailed for the killing of British aid worker Khuram Shaikh, murdereded whilst on holiday in Southern Sri Lanka in 2011.

Sampath Vidanapathirana, a politician with reported close links to the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was handed a 20-year jail sentence by the Colombo High Court, over the vicious Christmas day attack, where 32-year-old Shaikh was shot and stabbed and his Russian girlfriend raped.

The case has faced considerable delays with repeated accusations of political interference and witness intimidation. The accused was initially released and reinstated to his political post before being re-arrested following intense international pressure over the murder.

British Prime Minister David Cameron had cited the case as an example of Colombo’s failure to deliver justice and Prince Charles had reportedly taken a private interest in the case.

The British High Commission in Colombo said in a statement,

"We hope that this will bring some closure for his family and friends who have faced a long and difficult fight for justice.”

Khuram Shaikh’s brother Nasser Shaikh, who led a campaign vowing to fight for justice, was in Colombo to hear the verdict. Speaking after the announcement he said, "Those who killed my brother have been punished and are now behind bars for a long time.”

Nasser went on to add,

“Whilst our family and friends find it difficult to come to terms with the tragic loss,  I hope today can bring some comfort to everyone involved that we achieved the justice we set out for and the country can move forward in a better place for many, ensuring no other person suffers the same fate as my brother.”