Tangalla rape victim Victoria speaks

I didn't even know ...
when I was taken to hospital, dripping with blood
                 -- Victoria Alexander

Russian lover Victoria Alexander Rona of murdered British national Kuram Sheik gave evidence yesterday (27) where her evidence was translated into Russian by her Russian translator. Kuram Sheik was killed in a clash that took place at Nature Hotel in Tangalla while Victoria was collectively raped. This is what she said:
                                                                             "My lover is a British national. We came to


know each other in August in the year 2009 in Korea. We were involved in a romance during the time he was serving the Red Cross. It was to spend a holiday that we decided to come to Sri Lanka on December 17th, 22011. I came from Russia. Kuram came from Palestine across Oman and at that time he was employed in the Ghaza region.

We had planned to spend 3 weeks in a hotel in Tangalla. We arrived at the hotel on the 17th. The Manageress and the staff there treated us well. Prior to this we had come to Sri Lanka in February, 2011 and then we toured Kandy and Jaffna and stayed for 2 weeks. That time we stayed in a guest house called Mirissa Beach. We We spent our time romantically happy in Tangalla this time. We had so many hopes like getting married in 2012 and bringing up children. At Tangalla beach we didn't go for a swim because the tide was strong. We lived like husband and wife. Finally, a Christmas party had been organised on December 23rd for December 25th.

Foreign tourists in closeby hotels as well as local tourists were invited. On December 24th afternoon, I and Kuram decorated the Christmas tree. We attended the party at about 8.30 in the night. At that time there were about 40 who had come there. I attended the party dressed in a green-coloured frock and a pair of coloured sandals.

Staff members tried their best to light a bonfire when the party was in progress. It didn't light at the beginning, but ignited somewhat later. After having a buffet dinner, we joined the party. I had some liquor with Kuram. It was Vodka with Red Bull. After that, since Kuram was chatting with somebody in the bar, I walked towards the bonfire. Later I went to the beach and then hastened to where Kuram was. Someone had told that I had gone to the beach. Kuram had lost his temper. He didn't talk to me. I felt very sad, I couldn't bear crying. I then once again went beyond down to the sea and sat on the sand and started crying bitterly. Then a Sri Lankan male who came from the direction of the Hotel asked me in English, "Why are you crying?"
He was dressed in a white shirt and had curly hair. I felt afraid. I got up and started running towards the Hotel. I could go only as far as near the swimming pool. At that point I was subjected to attack. Several males attacked me with hands and feet. I clasped my head with my hands. Since they continued beating me, I fell down. After that also they assaulted me and subsequently threw me into the swimming pool. When I was trying to get out of the pool, a Sri Lankan man with a dark face kicked me on my face , wearing sandals. Once again I fell into the swimming pool. I managed to jump out from another side and started searching for Kuram, shouting for him.


The time then was around 11 in the night. I can identify the person who attacked me. He behaved indecently with a girl at the party. He was wearing a light blue-coloured shirt.

Kuram had fallen on the ground beyond the swimming pool. He was unconscious. He had cut injuries on his face. I shouted to him by his name.He didn't respond. But nobody came either. I think, after that I fainted. I was absolutely shocked and under severe pressure. I regained consciousness when I was being taken to Matara Hospital. I was dressed in somebody else's tee-shirt. My frock was hanging from my waist. As there was blood dripping from all over my body, my dress was removed and I was dressed with fresh clothes. It was then that I realised that I had no underwear. Tears started trickling down my eyes. My body and face were swollen. I felt my whole body aching and also felt a deep pain in my sexual region. I was subjected to a surgery at Karapitiya Hospital. After that I was taken to Colombo Lanka Hospital. It was only there that I came to know that Kuram was murdered. Till then everybody hid it from me.

On January 05th I was taken to Tangalla courts. At the identification parade, as soon as I saw the person who assaulted me,I identified him. But I didn't talk about it, thinking of my safety. I had no faith in my safety either. What I wanted was to go back to Russia as soon as possible.

I was asked by the Embassy to attend the court case. On this occasion the Sri Lanka government provides me the highest security. As such, I have no doubt about my safety. I went to Russia and took treatment from a neuro-surgeon, a surgeon and a mental neuro-surgeon there.

Doctors say that I am suffering from a serious condition of depression. Even now I am using a number of medications.After that I didn't think of a marriage. Kuram was my closest lover. It is difficult for another to take his place".

Report --Nishani Herath Banneheka