Video: Tangalle killing: British MP to complain to Queen

8 March 2013 12:32 pm

British MP Simon Danczuk, who arrived in Sri Lanka to seek justice for his constituent Khuram Shaikh, said today he would take this matter up with the Queen and urge her to boycott the Commonwealth Summit in November.

“I have already brought the issue in the British Parliament. I will inform the Queen and also the British Foreign Ministry as well,” he said.

Mr. Danczuk said he was disappointed at how this matter had been handled and the fact that senior Sri Lankan ministers had refused to meet him.

The slain Khuram Shaikh’s brother Nasir Shaikh had earlier pledged to continue the campaign until justice was meted out to his Brother.

He also stressed that Sri Lanka was bound to advocate Commonwealth values by upholding the rule of law. “Membership of the Commonwealth brings a responsibility to uphold certain values and a shared ethos of respect for all states and people. Guaranteeing access to justice and an independent judiciary to uphold the rule of law is an absolutely critical cornerstone upon which the strength and future of the Commonwealth lies,,” he said.

"With Sri Lanka playing host to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting this year, this case is a great opportunity for the Government to show the world that they share Commonwealth values of adherence to the rule of law and respect for human rights,” he said.

Meanwhile the victim’s brother Nasir Shaikh expressed disappointment over the slow progress in the case and said it was not sensible for a Commonwealth country to turn a blind eye on such tragedies.

 “I came here to seek justice for my brother. 15 months had elapsed since the unfortunate incident took place and we are shocked over the lack of progress in the case”, he said.

Remembering his lost brother Mr. Shaikh said his brother who worked for the International Red Cross had a real zest for life and lived to help others.  “This wasn’t his first visit to Sri Lanka. He had visited here once before. I remember his initial description of the country. He said it was a beautiful place and wanted to explore the real country that Sri Lanka was,” he said.  

 “I came here today trusting the Sri Lanka government to do the right thing and send out the right message. We need to assure that justice prevails. And I assure everybody that we will not rest until justice prevails,” he said.

The British MP also expressed concern over the political interference in the case as one of the main suspects was a local council politician in the ruling government.

“The case is moving slowly not because the country’s justice system is slow but there is political patronage in this case,” he said.

“There is concern that that one of the suspect is alleged to be close to the President of the country and there is some concern about political interference in the case which is quite disturbing,” the British politician complained. (Susitha R. Fernando and Lahiru Pothmulla)



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Pix by Pradeep Pathirana