The Colombo High Court sentenced UPFA strongman and former Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Sampath Chandrapushpa Vidanapathirana and three individuals to 20 years rigorous imprisonment for the murder of British national Khuram Shaikh and raping his girlfriend in December 2011.
Khuram Shaikh
Meanwhile, two others who were also on trial charged with the same crimes were acquitted of all charges and released.
The arrest of the main suspect of the trial – Vidanapathirana was prolonged until the British government raised issue concerning the lack of legal action on the crime. Although Vidanapathirana was suspended by the UPFA for his involvement in the crime, he was later reinstated and continued to hold the post of Tangalle PS Chairman until his arrest that led to today’s sentencing.
There was heavy lobbying worldwide for the prosecution of Shaikh’s killers to which included the British government as well as the MP for Shaikh’s home constituency – Rochdale, Simon Danzuk. The delay in the proceedings of the murder case turned into a major issue in the run-up to the Commonwealth Summit in Colombo last year, which prompted the main suspect -Vidanapathirana’s indictment that was carried out soon after the conclusion of CHOGM last year.
Vidanapathirana and five others were accused of brutally murdering British national and International Red Cross worker Khuram Shaikh at a hotel in Tangalle on Christmas Eve of 2011. The men were also charged with assaulting and raping Shaikh’s girlfriend Victoria Alexandrona.
Yoosuf / July 18, 2014
Now who is going to hang them?
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Amarasiri / July 18, 2014
Yoosuf
Just castrate them before release. That way they will not commit any more rape murders.
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Javi / July 18, 2014
like in hindian bihar/UP they will carry out their political meetings and run their business from just outside jail.
They would be pardoned within 10 years as in the UK for `good behavior`.
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burt / July 19, 2014
How does it work in SL? I think in the west time served gets reduced for good behavior.
Any way my guess this guy will get a presidential pardon by the text election, not the coming one so he will spend a total of around 4-6 years. He is going to have an easy life inside to a point I wont be surprised if this guy visits nightclubs during the period.
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Javi / July 19, 2014
How do you know if the dead man was not in the groom like the Palestinian psychiatrist in the US marines?
many a young british born muslim has gone into holy war in Syria- their parents never looked after them and are blaming the nation for not catching them before. How do we believe this when they live in ghettos and vote en block as per imams order??
Its the Russian woman and the British Russian MP that made it all happen nothing else.
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Spring Koha / July 19, 2014
Don’t worry the Presidential pardon will come soon (as part of the deal). Then, it would not be beyond the realms of imagination for Sampath to be sent as our High Commissioner to London. Sunneth!
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Thrishantha / July 18, 2014
I will be surprised if the president does not award a presidential pardon to this guy once the dust settles. So, keep an eye on!
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Ben Hurling / July 21, 2014
I think he will be secretly sent home at night.
Even worse, he will be provided an air-conditioned bungalow inside the jail.
All this is nothing, but an eye wash.
The killer is a major cronie of the ruling clan. Namal Raja takes good care of Blue Brigade thugs in return for services provided.
Cheers!
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Sama / July 22, 2014
Then we have no other choice, than hanging the president for all the criminal promotions. Or not ?
This man has destroyed the nation and the country sofar, telling something else to the poor of the poor.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / July 20, 2014
I got presidential Pardon within Six month,
So what???.
My bosom pals, They Will get presidential Pardon Very soon.
they are More value than I am for Him .
Hell with British Law, Who cares the Law.
This Our LAW.
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DesperateSrilanken / July 21, 2014
You know Yusuf.
[Edited out] will release him abusing his excutive powers in coming weeks. That is how Rajapakshes work safeguarding rights of the people in srilanka.
These are just to show the west that Rajapakshes can also investigate murder cases… as the west wants them, but this kind of verdicts would live short in present day srilanka because judiciary and any kind of crime inverstigations function – by the control button being pressed by Meeharaka Rajapakshe.
Wait and see.
Since Prince Charles and all other western leaders wanted srilanken regime to be fair in this murder case…. so MR could not do anything to save his bastard son Sampath -one of the main rapists of the murder.
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Sama / July 24, 2014
See this young man on the picture had no chance to spend his holiday in the country. Criminals and ones promote crimes should be punished equally. They the family of Khorum lost almost everything… his fiance has to go for therapies to recover the situation. What a buddhist nation we have been.
Gone are the days, that srilankens in general were civilized ones. Since the day Rajapakshe is in power, even innocient have been becoming criminal minded – since the society is made for criminals to get bred easily – drugs and alcohol are the main businesses of Rajapakshe related business men today.
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Sumith / July 18, 2014
take my word once the dust settle downs he will be freed with a presidential pardon.
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Ahmed / July 18, 2014
I think, before that the Appeal court or SC will release him for lack of evidence.
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Selwyn / July 18, 2014
Ahmad,
Very True. Plus/Or – Hospitalization with first class facilities, Special treatment by hand picked Prison Officers, Special Privileges and all other facilities available as per Asia’s Miracle. What more can we expect?????????
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Snowden Edward Asange / July 19, 2014
its disgusting to see a Prison officer trying to cover this ass with his uniform hat and is seen smiling (daily mirror). what a jackass and an insult to humanity. This prison officer will DO WHAT IT TAKES to see that thiis guy has all the luxury at a price that WE the CITIZEN are going to pay to maintain until these idiots are released sooner than later via a Presidential Pardon.. what a mockery its gonna be…
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burt / July 19, 2014
Defending and getting out of the murder could cost him a lot but he has a good defense against the rape charge. If it took six animals to rape an helpless victim then these guys are plain faggots not worth calling men. For it to be a crime there should be intent and as a faggot did he really have intent?
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AVB / July 18, 2014
Yep… There will be an appeal… Guys will get bail out with bond.. Case will drag on for years, witnesses disappear, forced away, killed by accidents. Judge dismiss the case for not having enough evidence.. AG agree.. This is happening much before Rajapakse era…
But we all can make a difference if we don’t forget the crime committed by these people..
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paul / July 18, 2014
if the man is found guilty and sentenced to 20 years, you complain.
if the man is found innocen and released, you complain.
tell me folks, what is your real agenda in circling like hawks on these pages…
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kulamkokila / July 18, 2014
Well said.
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Kakka / July 18, 2014
This fellow should be hanged. Hangman should be his criminal friend who shielded him up until now! We all know who the synthetic shit of a criminal that is!
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paul / July 18, 2014
I hope 20 years means 20 years.
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Robert.R / July 18, 2014
LOL only in theory, 6 months MAX
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Native Vedda / July 21, 2014
Robert.R
Any chance of MR conferring deshamanya to him for his highly meritorious services rendered to this nation (clan and country are synonymous).
Can we now put forward his name to president’s secretary for his consideration?
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paul / July 24, 2014
Hope you and i will live till january 2015 to see your fortune telling skills :-)
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crazyoldmansl / July 18, 2014
He will be released very soon.
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mike / July 18, 2014
He will be released very soon and given a diplomatic assignment by Hitlerpassa!
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Javi / July 19, 2014
maybe because he killed a terrorist in style that only they understand!
remember the Palestinian psychiatrist in the marines.
Ltte heroin smuggling, gun trotting terrorist that invaded the west looked very holy friendly and nice guys- that was the disciplined training they received to run refugee organisations that fed the war.
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Ahmed / July 18, 2014
Thank God, they did not punish Khuram posthumously for raping & assaulting girl friend and commiting suicide! Where are the twisters?!
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whywhy / July 18, 2014
Ahmed
This is murder and rape.Victims are Foreigners.Tourists.
The dead was an Aid worker.And the main criminal is a
social leader with strong links to about six or seven
top leaders of the country.Imagine how severe the
punishment should be!Just about a week back,a Ukranian
couple was sentenced to death for murder in the country.
The victims must appeal for harsher punishment without
letting the criminals appeal for leniency.
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Javi / July 19, 2014
` sentenced to death`
a non starter. EU/UK
It was just the rape calling the shots so that other women who come to enjoy the sun and beaches don’t fall prey.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / July 18, 2014
Whitewash! Cover up! Pumpkin, plate of rice etc etc! LOL :D
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Ajith / July 18, 2014
Mahinda is very shrewd. This is a verdict to convince British and international community and to show the justice system is independent. The murderer will go to jail for some time and enjoy a luxurious life within prison and come back in few months time.
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whywhy / July 19, 2014
Ajith
And you think,we will have another “minister for murder
and rape?” Not really impossible at the rate ministries
created and without any experience or education of the
subject matter.But this ministry,with ground experience
could be a milestone tourism and crime.Can even consider
doing away with those useless ministries of defense and
justice!!!!
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bloodsucker / July 18, 2014
Anybody else would get death sentence but not all presidents men. 20 years is a sham. He will be provided with best facilities in his own prison quarters with freedom to visit friends and relations secretly. Come independence day he will be given a presidential pardon. It is common practice in Sri Lanka if the murderer is connected , like wife of Milroy.
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Sama / July 22, 2014
We could be happier if the bugger was castrated – since he raped that tourist girl. No pardon should be given to anyone who involved in rape cases. MOGTHERS of the entire world would agree with that. In srialnka, many of us are said to be buddhist, for some time now, many of them rape or assault their own men and women. THat has been the culture promoted by the idiotic president and his administration.
May be Namal baby had also done this kind of things, while being in the cmopany of PS member.
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Bensen Burner / July 18, 2014
Murder of Khuram became a crime only after the Commonwealth summit. The accused will either spend most of his days outside the jail, discharged by the farcical appeal court or be pardoned by the president.
Bensen
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Raritythoughts / July 23, 2014
Actually, all these crimes, and crime promotions, Rajalapshes should be executed to the very same manner North korean leader did it with his uncle
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Manel / July 18, 2014
Khuram’s family, and the British authorities, better keep an eye on what is happening here.
In Sri Lanka nothing is straight forward. It is all about who you know.
We can almost anticipate these criminals will be release in a few years time, even month.
The rajapaksa’s were pressurized in getting justice for this poor victim by the UK.
This may be a ruse to pacify them, and later on things will take a turn towards a release.
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Cynic / July 18, 2014
The government took a long time to prosecute because this criminal is an important government man. The case was filed only because of unbearable pressure from the UK. Do you really think the government’s commitment to this criminal just went away? I do not think so.
With the CJ being who he is, I will not be surprised if a word was said to the judge who seems to have not given reasons for the sentence and not given a chance for the defense to plead mitigating circumstances before sentencing.
Was the whole thing a set up that will allow reversal on appeal? I will not be surprised. The government can then tell Britain that it tried its best and their man will get away Scot free.
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Park / July 18, 2014
Guaranteed, President Rajapakse will pardon Vidana Pathirana at the first opportunity he gets.
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MURDERER RAPIST / July 18, 2014
IDiots. FOR A MURDERER AND RAPIST you give 20YEARS. It should be DEATH SENTENCE [Edited out]
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whywhy / July 18, 2014
We tell the BBS,touch a Marakkalaya,touch a European girl
and be ready with a calculator to count bars!There will be
more demands and pressure against sponsoring,protecting
inciting and even public gathering to organise hate crime.
The police needs many Indrans and there are a few to stand
up at the right moment and that few will be role models of
the police in the history.Killers must minimum get life in
prison and anything short of that is,something somewhere
wrong.Murder and rape both got twenty,bad price!
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Gong Putha / July 18, 2014
Seem to have very little faith in the Sri Lankan justice Ahh….
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Mohamed Marzook / July 18, 2014
Glad to see that Law and Justice has prevailed in this instance although does not happen in all such matters and hope the Court’s decision is not derailed by some other manipulation.
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mike / July 19, 2014
There will be an appeal and our King of all Kings will deliver judgement. Judgement: “Not Guilty as charged due to misrepresentation of facts by the defence or lack of concrete evidence”. Accused to be given a diplomatic assignment and compensation of Rs.25 million plus legal costs!
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burt / July 19, 2014
[Edited out]
Presidential pardon on the way.
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Snowden Edward Asange / July 19, 2014
The appeal should be done NOT by the accused but the victim’s family and their High Commission through their lawyers..citing a decision given 2 days ago…to a Ukrinian couple who were sentenced for murder ONLY…these guys are accused of Murder and also RAPE yet get ONLY 20 years which, manipulated and calculated would boil down to just 6 months, by which time is Feb 4th and a Time for a Presidential Pardon…
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Roland / July 19, 2014
The Presidential, Provincial, and General Elections are coming up, as soon as the elections are over this criminal will be pardoned and released at most 2 years.
In other news sites it is said that the criminal is living a luxurious life with air conditioned room, television, mobile phone, regularly visiting guests(some are high profiled), meals from 5 star hotels, meals from 5 star hotels, taken out of prison for night clubs, prison guards as his servants, etc.
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Mallaiyuran / July 19, 2014
King have to go to Irish games. So He did not want to face the same problems Gnasara is facing for the Visas. One game and election is over they will come back and tell “it is the justice made the mistake; Chandrapushpa never killed anybody!”. They said it for CJ. They said it for Dhumintha Silva.
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Ravin / July 19, 2014
These murderous political scumbags should have been sentenced to death.
The main accused the friend of the MR family lives in comparative luxury even in remand and regularly visited by family friends. These animals will soon get a pardon by presidential order unless a watchful eye is kept by the British H.C. authorities. There is no law and order under this Medamulana Dictator and his Judicial henchmen.
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Lapatiya / July 19, 2014
This punishment because victims are foreigners. Mr. Sampath Vidanapathirana, General of Namal Baby’s Blue Brigade, should not involve in this kind of thing after getting Presidential pardon as plenty of Local Young Girls are available freely.
He should take Saruwa Sunil as example as Saruwa Sunil celebrated his 300 no’s of Rapes with top class politicians including Dallas Allahapperua and Chamal Rajapaksha.
Take Duminda Silva, he was charged with Raping two under aged Girls and our Attorney General then, now Cheap Justice, acquitted him from all charges.
There was a news that 7 Ranaviruwo’s belongs to Navy raped 11 year old Tamil Girl for 11 days. I am sure there will not be any case as Girl is Tamil and 7 guys are Deshapremees. Sampath Vidanapathirana should take these things into account next time.
our President have lot of “Janadipathi Samaa” (Presidential Pardon) in his pocket and there will be Presidential Election for which Sampath Vidanapathirana’s service is essential.
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justice / July 20, 2014
The correct punishment for murder is the ‘death sentence’.
This, it has been pointed out, is converted to “life imprisonment”, on appeal, in some cases.
It is alleged that in this case, a sentence of 20 years imprisonment has been purposely given so that this could be “commuted” on appeal, to a much lesser punishment of a “suspended sentence”.
In other words, this politician will get away without any actual punishment.
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steve murphy / July 20, 2014
this is only short lived .chairmens lawyers are going to appeal and our fixed judisury are going to release him on suspended 5 year term.all this show for international .arena
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Bryan / July 22, 2014
Why do you refer to uneducated thugs as STRONGMEN’
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