Colombo:
A Sri Lankan court has sentenced a ruling party politician to 20 years in prison for killing a British tourist and raping his Russian girlfriend more than two years ago.
Three others were given the same sentence as Sampath Vidanapathirana by the High Court on Friday. It found them guilty of murdering Khuram Sheikh and raping his girlfriend at a southern tourist resort on 2011 Christmas Day.
The case attracted international attention amid allegations that Vidanapathirana was enjoying impunity because of his connections to the family of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The case had been discussed in British Parliament. British politicians and the victim's family had visited Sri Lanka to personally demand justice.
Three others were given the same sentence as Sampath Vidanapathirana by the High Court on Friday. It found them guilty of murdering Khuram Sheikh and raping his girlfriend at a southern tourist resort on 2011 Christmas Day.
The case attracted international attention amid allegations that Vidanapathirana was enjoying impunity because of his connections to the family of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The case had been discussed in British Parliament. British politicians and the victim's family had visited Sri Lanka to personally demand justice.
