British woman raped in SL speaks out

21 April 2013 02:36 pm - 70 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A woman raped at a hotel in Sri Lanka has spoken for the first time of the attack in which she was badly beaten and her British boyfriend was killed.

Victoria Tkacheva, 24, a Russian languages graduate, fears that the men responsible for her rape and the murder of Khuram Shaikh, a 32-year-old Red Cross worker from Rochdale, will not be brought to justice.

One of the eight suspects who were arrested but later released is a local politician whose family have close ties to the Sri Lankan president.

There is currently no prospect of a trial, but Tkacheva insists she will not rest until justice is done. “I know if Khuram was in my place he would go on to the end,” she said. “That’s what I must do too,” she told in an interview with the UK's The Sunday Times.

The couple had met in 2009 in North Korea where he was working as a prosthetics expert for the Red Cross, fitting artificial limbs to adults and children. Tkacheva was in Pyongyang, the capital, to study the Korean language. The relationship continued when Shaikh was posted to Gaza.
They were enjoying a holiday in December 2011 at the Nature Resort in Tangalle, 100 miles south of the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, when a group of men arrived at a hotel party on Christmas Eve.

Victoria Tkacheva

After a minor tiff with Shaikh during the party, Tkacheva was sitting alone on the beach at midnight to cool down when she was approached by a man and asked whether anything was wrong.

She became anxious and ran back towards the hotel but was set upon by a number of men. She does not know how many.

“I couldn’t even see them. They started beating me. I fell to the ground — I was covering my head with my arms so I couldn’t see anybody,” she said. “It was next to the pool. It was so sudden, they were kicking and punching.”

Her assailants pushed her into the swimming pool. “I was trying to escape from the pool but they were not letting me.”

Tkacheva, who had suffered a fractured skull, eventually managed to get away.

“I got out from another side of the pool and in a few steps I found Khuram lying on the ground. I ran to him and started to call his name but he wasn’t responding.
“I tried to make him conscious, trying mouth-to- mouth, but there was nothing I could do to make him conscious,” she said.

Tkacheva saw cuts on Shaikh’s face but did not notice the stab or bullet wounds that killed him. “When I couldn’t bring him round I screamed very loud from helplessness and then I think I lost consciousness because I don’t remember anything else.”

It appears that at this point she was raped. Her next memory is waking up in hospital wearing a T-shirt that she did not recognise and finding that her dress was blood-splattered and her underwear had gone. Her face was badly swollen and her body was covered in bruises.
Witnesses said Tkacheva had been found naked and unconscious in a room at the hotel on Christmas morning. She had been raped or sexually assaulted and had suffered vaginal injuries, according to a Sri Lankan police report.

Tkacheva does not recall when or where she was found. “You try not to think that could have happened but it’s disgusting because they killed Khuram and sexually assaulted me,” she said.

To the best of Tkacheva’s knowledge, her missing underwear has never been found and her dress was thrown away. Both could have provided police with DNA evidence.

The eight suspects were identified through witness accounts. They include Sampath Chandra Pushpa Vidanapathirana, the head of the local council in Tangalle, one of the largest towns in Sri Lanka’s southern province. His family have links to President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

While there is no suggestion that Rajapaksa or members of Vidanapathirana’s family have intervened in the case, the relatives of Tkacheva and Shaikh believe there has been a lack of urgency during the investigation. All the suspects were released on bail without charge last November.

Tkacheva, who has waived her anonymity as a rape victim, is ready to give evidence at any trial. “I was devastated when the men were freed on bail,” she said.

Last month the Sri Lankan government said it was awaiting a report on DNA evidence and had made every effort to find those involved.

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Comments - 70

mahadenemutta Monday, 22 April 2013 09:02 AM

Hidden agendar behind this news

Crow Monday, 22 April 2013 10:07 AM

Really we are very INNOCENT PEOPLE.

Rata Haraka Monday, 22 April 2013 10:02 AM

Yes, "...having close ties to the President does not mean that the President is responsible for the hooligan's actions.", but he (the President) needs to take immediate, firm & decisive actions against such atrocities, irrespective of the perps connections (to him or anyone else). Not having done this shows his consent and complicity for these crimes and encourages others also with similar 'connections' that they too can easily get away with such dastardly acts. For THAT, he (the President) is undeniably responsible.

Saradial Monday, 22 April 2013 10:02 AM

Waiting for the statement from a Cabinet minister saying "She has raped her self"

Hemika Cooray Monday, 22 April 2013 10:00 AM

Sri Lanka will never rise with this type of democracy prevailing in the country!!

Rambo Monday, 22 April 2013 09:50 AM

Why did you select Godaya instead of Gon Buruwa?

kappaya Monday, 22 April 2013 09:51 AM

you mean the powerful official in the country???

Amila.G Monday, 22 April 2013 09:45 AM

One off stories , More to follow, Life goes on in Sri Lanka till we are made to crawl.

Kabaraya Monday, 22 April 2013 10:14 AM

Ram, you always got something against Sri Lanka. While I am condemning what took place on that night, these things happens in any part of the world. Just see what happened at Boston.

janak Monday, 22 April 2013 08:59 AM

CANT ACCEPT THIS WE PRESUMB AS PER HER WISHES JOB WAS DONE

malkanthi Monday, 22 April 2013 08:59 AM

Also delayed justice is consent to such acts.

nilu Monday, 22 April 2013 08:40 AM

It shows how you eanred your name

ranil Monday, 22 April 2013 08:17 AM

Most Beautiful and most dangerous place in the world

RamUk Monday, 22 April 2013 08:14 AM

necessary action yes they are having tea together...

RamUk Monday, 22 April 2013 08:07 AM

they are busy.....may be this is allowed ......

RamUk Monday, 22 April 2013 08:06 AM

not worry about the world we have choices really sorry for you ppl......

RamUk Monday, 22 April 2013 08:04 AM

SL is one of the best countries with nice landscape but you have to put up with the barbarians... your choice your call...

C.Seneveratne Monday, 22 April 2013 11:27 AM

It is not the case of a British woman.
Rape cases in Sri lanka is in the rise.
Political cover will not help.

Don Monday, 22 April 2013 04:29 PM

Justice delayed is justice denied.

kaputakukula Monday, 22 April 2013 12:49 PM

One thing is certain. She will not get justice because it is Sri Lanka.

Panini abeyaratne Monday, 22 April 2013 12:23 PM

Before sri lanka is called Muthu Ataya Now it is called amuthu stays because of this in humane acts.

Jawshana Monday, 22 April 2013 12:05 PM

Shame on gender based violence in Lanka!
Shame we often argue we have 1st woman president and woman prime-minister of the world meanwhile we have 6 women ministers in cabinet of 24. What do we want more than to protect of our women?

Oopz this is Sri Lankan sagacity they used the trick there is no penal code provisions 4 raping a foreign woman... Gap is there, where we escape through.. :p

Jayantha Monday, 22 April 2013 11:48 AM

WONDER OF ASIA..........One of the eight suspects who were arrested but later released is a local politician whose family have close ties to the 'you know who'

Ranga Monday, 22 April 2013 11:39 AM

Sorry to say this lady but your missing undergarment might have been collected by those criminals as a trophy and one day come out to give further headache to the nation!

Shafraz Monday, 22 April 2013 11:34 AM

Rapists and Racists both are the trouble makers for the country.

Andaray Monday, 22 April 2013 11:31 AM

Don't worry it can be amicably settled.

Change now Monday, 22 April 2013 08:06 AM

If the story is true and accurate; I am shocked. This is not Sri Lanka that I knew and admired.

kugan Monday, 22 April 2013 11:15 AM

This is a good news for tourism. In March & April , tourism has been already fallen because of the British government tourism guidance and Tamil Nadu student protest . This news will add salt to injury. Any way our political leaders will be richer and richer and people will be? Who cares

Kodituwakkuarachchi Monday, 22 April 2013 11:09 AM

So many rapes go on in Sri Lanka and this i no big deal.

Please stop distracting us from our all important rebuilding of Dutugamunu Kingdom.

kandykolla Monday, 22 April 2013 10:19 AM

Such a beautiful couple torn apart. These idiots may escape here but, there`s no escape in god`s court !! They have to pay the price badly.....!!

hilzeena Monday, 22 April 2013 10:20 AM

justice should be done without further delay
if not youngsters like me who are thriving to promote tourism might have shut down and migrate

Seelawathie Monday, 22 April 2013 10:17 AM

Hey,are you upset because the LTTE got done like a dinner?

RDF Monday, 22 April 2013 10:16 AM

But its landscape is bloched by lawlessness and utter arogance by the politically connected.

leed Sunday, 21 April 2013 04:05 PM

nothing will happen.

prasannah Monday, 22 April 2013 05:46 AM

you were just joking with that comment right?

asoka abeywardena Monday, 22 April 2013 05:46 AM

boys will be boys

S.desilva Monday, 22 April 2013 05:43 AM

Are you insane?.

sathya Monday, 22 April 2013 05:40 AM

Why not send a postcard to the Cheap Justice and every thing will be sorted out

Living the dream o/s Monday, 22 April 2013 05:21 AM

This is the reason I personally tell people in my overseas country to NEVER visit third world under developed SL because you get raped or robbed.

Rajani Monday, 22 April 2013 05:05 AM

Our boys are innocent and this women is creating unnecessary problems.

Norwegian Monday, 22 April 2013 04:42 AM

A land like no other's,,

Sadarana Monday, 22 April 2013 02:01 AM

RAPE and MURDER are the worst crimes in the world and sadly it has come to Sri Lanka too. Please may the law do its duty soon and bring the culprits to justice.

Silva de Mervin Monday, 22 April 2013 06:08 AM

Would not be surprised if some politicians say, that there is no records that this lady ever visited SL.

Observer Sunday, 21 April 2013 04:02 PM

Is this "freedom"? Is this how we promote tourism? Well, having close ties to the President does not mean that the President is responsible for the hooligan's actions. But this type of behavior must stop and bring them to justice!

Appu Singho Sunday, 21 April 2013 04:00 PM

Its not only the Tamil diaspora that is turing against the injustice that is happening in Sri Lanka today. The Sinhala people too who are living abroad are embarrassed and ashamed as what is taking place in their home land. Time action is taken to remedy this situation before it gets out of control like Zimbabwe or Sudan.

Nodrog Sunday, 21 April 2013 03:56 PM

Well the Govt asked for this by delaying justice.

Gon Banda Sunday, 21 April 2013 03:56 PM

News items auch as this horrendous attack on a woman and the murdering of her friend does not bode well for Sri Lanka's image abroad. Already, its bad enough; about human rights violation, attack on a free press, asylum seeker boatloads and war crimes. Our name is being tarnished rapidly all over the world. The GOSL should take necessary action immediately to avoid a backlash.

Visakiav Sunday, 21 April 2013 03:51 PM

Delaying investigations and commencement of trial is a tactic of criminal cases in Sri Lanka where the accused are politically influential and powerful. Delay makes the prosecution evidence weak and memories fade away and to Police to concoct stories.

sss Sunday, 21 April 2013 03:43 PM

shame. Where are religious leaders?

Godaya Sunday, 21 April 2013 03:46 PM

Karunakara Rajaya saha Janadhipathi thuma apahasuwata lakwana prakasha kireemen walakinna!

Gamarala Sunday, 21 April 2013 03:26 PM

It appears nothing will happen to the suspects due to their political connections. This is an utter disgrace and brash miscarriage of justice. The whole world is watching.

Prasanna Cooray Monday, 22 April 2013 07:38 AM

Why the president is not inquiring and taking actions against them? Is he also this type? Why why? Then why he's pretending to be very holy?

hb Monday, 22 April 2013 08:02 AM

This government has proven again and again that if you are relative of a bigwig, you can get away even with rape and murder.

RamUk Monday, 22 April 2013 07:57 AM

delayed justice is injustice ...

AmilaG Monday, 22 April 2013 07:57 AM

Google will say. American conspiracy.

charly Monday, 22 April 2013 07:52 AM

JUST UNEXCEPTABLE;

brown cat Monday, 22 April 2013 07:54 AM

all tourist should see this article..never go to south asia..india and srilanka all same..full of corupt racist rapists..wonder whats the use of their culture and heritage

Van der Merwe Monday, 22 April 2013 07:50 AM

Silva, dont you see the sarcasm in that comment? I wonder who clicked those thumps down. Oh yes this is Srilanka.

AmilaGA Monday, 22 April 2013 07:47 AM

Shame.Politics has ruined this Country and will continue .

Van der Merwe Monday, 22 April 2013 07:50 AM

Highly intoxicated thanks to Norway.

Pluto Sunday, 21 April 2013 03:04 PM

That is very nice for Sri Lanka's image as a tourist destination. Also shows the world that boys are boys, from the words of the Sri Lanka government's cabinet minister.

Conclusion Monday, 22 April 2013 07:25 AM

all these to deaf years, only people will suffer as a result of sanctions

Jaaz Monday, 22 April 2013 07:17 AM

Way to become the Wonder of Asia!!!

Meeminna Monday, 22 April 2013 07:12 AM

You get arrested for lighting a candle if you are on the wrong side. You get to live free after raping a woman and killing her partner, if you are on the right side. Great law enforcement achievement to the honor of the constitution Rajapaksas!

#Irfaan Monday, 22 April 2013 07:08 AM

Feeling Ashamed to be a Sri Lankan. My heartache's reading your story, let the culprits at least rot in hell..!!!

Concerned Monday, 22 April 2013 07:01 AM

Delayed justice is denied justice!

Labby Monday, 22 April 2013 07:00 AM

At whatever election the UPFA is repeatedly voted in to power. So whom are we complaining about?

Meeminna Monday, 22 April 2013 06:50 AM

"You get arrested for lighting a candle if you are on the wrong side. You get to live free after raping a woman and killing her partner, if you are on the right side. Great law enforcement achievement to the honor of the constitution Rajapaksas!"

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British woman raped in SL speaks out

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