Lankan shop owner dies in UK

The Sri Lankan owner of a shop in Bedford, East of England who suffered a severe blow to the head in an assault on Sunday night has died.  Vairamuthu Thiyagarajah, 56, received serious head injuries in the incident which happened in the flat above the MK Food and Wine shop in Elstow Road, Bedford, at 5.30pm. He was immediately rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge in a serious condition where he stayed until his death yesterday afternoon (Thursday, April 11). Mr Thiyagarajah, originally from Sri Lanka, died with his family at his bedside. He leaves a wife, a son, four daughters, three son-in-laws, a daughter-in-law and several grandchildren. The flat was shared by Mr Thiyagarajah and three employees who work at the store, one of whom, Thilak Moham-Raj, 25, was arrested that night for section 18 GBH in connection with the incident. He was later released on police bail but taken into custody again on Wednesday night and charged with GBH with intent. He appeared at Luton Magistrates Court on Thursday and remains in custody. He will appear at Luton Crown Court on April 24.The case is being investigated by the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit and a post mortem has been arranged for Monday. Police are currently working with the CPS in relation to the investigation in the light of Mr Thiyagarajah’s death.