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UK MP to confront Rajapaksa on Brit murder case

A British MP, Simon Danczuk, who is part of a Commonwealth Parliamentary Association delegation due in Colombo this week, asserted that he would confront the president, Mahinda Rajapaksa, regarding the murder of a British citizen, Khuram Shaikh.

Danczuk told The Daily Telegraph:

"I'm going to confront the president of Sri Lanka on whether he thinks this behaviour is becoming of a Commonwealth nation."

"The perception is that they're trying to cover it up. My guess is that [it's because] the alleged murderer is a local politician who delivers for the ruling party, which delivers for the president and helps them remain elected,"

"The British government should think twice about who we send to CHOGM if justice is not done before then, and whether it should include the Prime Minister,"

Shaikh, a Red Cross aid worker, was murdered whilst on holiday in Sri Lanka on Christmas Day in 2011. His partner reported that she was gang-raped and beaten unconscious.

However, earlier this month, Sri Lanka's Chief Government Whip, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, refuted her reports, and told Parliament that the partner of the murdered British citizen, Khuram Shaikh, was not subjected to any rape or sexual violence. 

Gunawardena said that she 'had only received serious injuries as a result of being assaulted'.

See related articles:

SL minister refutes rape testimony of murdered Brit's partner (12 July 2013)

Sri Lanka rape victim will ‘go on to the end’ for justice
(21 Apr 2013)

UK MP pledges to canvas Queen for CHOGM boycott (08 Mar 2013)

British murder victim's brother disheartened (30 Dec 2012)

Khuram Shaikh’s family distressed as death anniversary looms (23 Dec 2012)

British MP fears SL government covering up tourist murder (19 Dec 2012)

Politician accused of murder reinstated in post (14 Aug 2012)

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