Colombo, July 18 (IANS): A Sri Lankan court Friday held the main suspects arrested over the murder of a British tourist guilty and sentenced them to 20 years imprisonment.
The case drew international attention as it involved a politician of the ruling party with British Prime Minister David Cameron among those demanding justice.
Former chairman of a local council in the southern town of Tangalle, Sampath Vidanapathirana was one of six men charged with the murder of 32-year-old Khuram Shaikh and the rape of his Russian girlfriend.
The Colombo High Court held Sampath Vidanapathirana and three others guilty while two others were found not guilty, Xinhua reported.
The British tourist was shot and stabbed to death at the Tangalle beach resort while on holiday in Sri Lanka on Christmas Day 2011.