The Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman, Sampath Chandrapushpa Vidanapathirana, who is accused of murdering a British national and sexually assaulting his girlfriend, was arrested last night (January 21) after failing to appear at the trial.
Police Media Spokesman, SSP Ajith Rohana stated that a team of CID officers were able to arrest the Chairman in the Kotte area last night.
The arrest warrant was issued by Colombo High Court Judge Rohini Walgama after Vidanapathirana failed to appear before the court when the case was taken up.
Eight suspects including the Chairman of the Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha are accused in the murder of Khuram Shaikh, the British tourist who was killed in the 2011 Christmas Eve tragedy at a hotel in Tangalle.
A Red Cross worker in Gaza, Shaikh was on a holiday in Sri Lanka when he was shot and stabbed when he and his Russian girlfriend were attacked at the Tangalle hotel.
