British Tourist Khuram Sheik murder in Tangalle

The Colombo High Court announced today that the 20-year term of rigorous imprisonment imposed on the four accused in the Khuram Sheik murder case came into effect from the date of conviction of the accused on July 18 2014. In this case, Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha former Chairman Sampath Vidanapathirana and four others were convicted for the killing of British Tourist Kurham Sheik in a hotel in Tangalle in December 2011. The Court of Appeal's verdict in the appeal filed by the accused was read out to the defence lawyers by High Court Judge Adithya Patabendige. The Court was informed that appeals and counter appeals filed by the defence and the Attorney General at the Court of Appeal have been withdrawn, by the parties concerned. Four convicts former Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Chandra Pushpa Vidanapathirana, Lahiru Kalum, Saman Deshapriya and Prageeth Chaturanga who were found guilty of killing British tourist Khuram Shaikh in December 2011 and for raping and brutally assaulting his fiancée while holidaying at the tourist resort of Tangalle were sentenced by the Colombo High Court in 2014. While requesting to amend the punishments given to the convicts, the Attorney General also suggested through an appeal that these convicts should be given the death sentence or life imprisonment as they committed the murder using weapons after being members of an unlawful assembly.