Four men jailed for murder of Rochdale aid worker

A Sri Lankan politician and three other men have been jailed for a total of 80 years for the murder of Rochdale aid worker Khuram Shaikh.

The 32-year old was attacked while on holiday with his girlfriend in the resort of Tangelle on Christmas Day 2011.

The former council leader in Tangelle was given a 20 year sentence.

This report from Daniel Hewitt, who has followed this case from the start:

And Tony spoke to Nasser Shaikh, Khuram's brother, via Skype from the Sri Lankan capital Colombo.

The family of Khuram Shaikh, the Briton murdered in Sri Lanka in 2011, said today's sentencing of Mr Shaikh's killers is "a symbolic moment."

"Those who killed my brother have been punished and are now behind bars for a long time," said the victim's elder brother Nasser Shaikh.

The 32-year old Red Cross worker from Rochdale was murdered at a southern tourist resort on Christmas Day 2011.

Read: Sri Lankan politician jailed for killing a British tourist

Nasser Shaikh, whose brother Khuram was murdered in Sri Lanka in 2011, said he hoped the legacy of his brother would continue. Mr Shaikh said the sentencing of Khuram's murderers is "a symbolic moment."

The 32-year old Red Cross worker from Rochdale was murdered at a southern tourist resort on Christmas Day 2011.

Read: Sri Lankan politician jailed for killing a British tourist

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 in Colombo.

It found them guilty of murdering Khuram Shaikh and raping his girlfriend at a southern tourist resort on Christmas Day 2011.

• The Khuram Shaikh story in full from the beginning.

Nasser Shaikh, the elder brother brother of Khuram, has released this statement from Colombo where four men have been jailed for his murder:

“We welcome the verdicts and sentences handed down today to those responsible for the murder of Khuram Shaikh. We hope that this will begin some closure for his family and friends who have faced a long and difficult fight for justice.

"The officials of the Attorney General’s office have shown great professionalism and integrity and we would like to thank them. We will continue to monitor any developments in the case closely.”

A prominent Sri Lankan politician and three other men have each been jailed for 20 years for killing aid worker Khuram Shaikh.

The 32-year old was attacked while on holiday on Christmas Day in 2011.

Sampath Vidanapathirana, a former council leader in the beach resort of Tangelle, was today found guilty of Khuram's murder at the High Court in Colombo.

Two of the accused were acquitted.