KHURAM SHAIKH MURDER IN TANGALLE No shortage of assurances, but shortage of action: UK MP

Calls for Queen Elizabeth II to boycott CHOGM, while victim’s brother laments 15 months after his brother’s brutal slaying the suspects are out on bail

The head of the Commonwealth, Queen Elizabeth 11 will be urged to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held here in November, as this country has failed to do justice to a British Red Cross worker who was brutally murdered in Tangalle, a British Parliamentarian said.

British Member of Parliament for Rochdale (Manchester), Simon Danczuk was in the country along with Nasir Shaikh, brother of Khuram Shaikh (32) who died a brutal death, while involved in a dispute at a tourist resort in Medilla, Tangalle, on Christmas Eve 2011.

“I think it is highly inappropriate for the Queen to participate, if the case is stalled and the killers are not brought to justice. We are extremely concerned and strongly think that there is a need for more haste and speed in terms of prosecution and the trial to get started,” Mr. Danczuk said.

According to him, the family has received many assurances from Sri Lanka, during the past 14 months.

“There is no shortage of assurances, but a shortage of action. The most senior member of the Sri Lanka government put forward to meet us was the Economic Development Deputy Minister M. Hizbullah. I am extremely disappointed. Anyway, that’s the government’s decision, and perhaps, it reflects on where it is in terms of this case,” he added.

He said that it is also very unfortunate that two British nationals were allegedly assaulted by a local politician, not even 24 hours after arriving in the country.

“This lack of progress could jeopardise the British Government’s desire to attend the Commonwealth Summit in November. If the justice system is slow, it’s fine, but our concern is that there is political patronage and the suspects are walking free.”

MP Danczuk said that attempts to contact senior ministers including Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa under whom tourism comes, had failed.

He said that, with Sri Lanka playing host to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this year, this case is a great opportunity for the Government to show the world that it shares Commonwealth values.

He said that he has raised this issue in the British Parliament and with British Prime Minister David Cameron and Alistair Burt, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Khuram, from Rochdale, Manchester worked as a physical rehabilitation manager for the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Gaza Strip. He was an expert in providing prosthetics for those