Body of murdered Red Cross worker repatriated to UK

The body of Khuram Shaikh, a British National who was murdered in a brutal attack on 25 December, has been returned to the United Kingdom in preparation for a family funeral, the British High Commission said on Wednesday (Jan 04).  

Khuram’s brother, Nasir Shaikh, arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday to oversee the repatriation of his brother’s body and to seek information directly from the Sri Lankan authorities about the circumstances of the tragic attack.  

On the afternoon of 4 January, accompanied by Acting British High Commissioner Robbie Bulloch, Nasir Shaikh met the Director of the CID to hear about progress in bringing those responsible for his brother’s murder to justice.  

The Director of the CID gave his personal assurance to Mr Shaikh that everything was being done to bring about a successful prosecution of those responsible, the British High Commission in Sri Lanka said in a release.

“From the assurances I have received today I am confident that the Sri Lankan authorities have what they need to bring those responsible for the brutal murder of my brother, and the vicious attack on Victoria, to Justice.” Mr Shaikh had commented following the meeting.

“This is a very distressing time but I would like to thank all those involved in the investigation of my brother’s murder and those who have helped with his repatriation.  For the sake of my brother and the rest of our family I hope that the investigation can now be brought to a swift conclusion.” 

Khuram Zaman Shaikh, 32, died as a result of a deep stab wound following an attack at a hotel in Tangalle while on holiday in Sri Lanka. 

A prosthetics rehabilitation manager working in the Gaza Strip for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mr Shaikh, was accompanied by a Russian national, Victoria Rustkacheva, who was seriously injured in a subsequent attack.