Feb 08, Colombo: A parliamentarian of Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) has expressed surprise at the government's decision not to inform parliament the details related to the murder of a British tourist in Tangalle on Christmas Eve in 2011.

UNP parliamentarian Dayasiri Jayasekera requested the government to inform parliament of the details related to the British national's killing and the grievous injuries caused to his Russian companion.

Jayasekera asked the government for details of the incident and the follow up action taken by the authorities to prosecute the suspects.

Chief Government Whip, Minister Dinesh Gunawardena has declined responding to the question since the matter was before court and it was sub judice.

However, Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremasinghe has responded saying the sub judice rule would not prevent the government from providing details for the questions posed by Jayasekera.

He has added that under the sub judice law, it is only the reasons that led to the crime that could not be revealed.

Khuram Shaikh Zaman, 32, a British tourist from Manchester was killed and his companion, Victoria Alexandrovna of Russia was assaulted in a brawl during a party at a tourist hotel in Rekawa, Tangalle on Christmas Eve in 2011.

The main suspect, ruling party Chairman of Tangalle Pradeshiya Sabha Sampath Chandra Pushpa Vidanapathirana and six others, who were arrested and remanded following the murder, were released on bail in November last year.