'They Came Calling Names' | Ex-Inmate Details Welikada Clash

COLOMBO (News 1st); The recent clash inside Welikada Magazine Prison has taken a dramatic new turn after a former inmate who claims to have witnessed the incident firsthand stepped into the public spotlight with a series of serious allegations.

Appearing before a media briefing organized in Colombo by the Committee for the Protection of Prisoners' Rights, Navodya Dilshan Seneviratne, who was being held at Welikada Magazine Prison at the time of the incident, provided a detailed account of what he says unfolded behind prison walls.

Seneviratne, who attended the media briefing after being released by court order, claimed he had been detained at the prison since December 9, 2024, in connection with a case involving 50 grams of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as "Ice." According to him, he remained in the E Cell Ward until his release.

Recounting the events leading up to the clash, Seneviratne alleged that a large group, including prison officers and several individuals in civilian clothing, entered the prison ward carrying poles, iron bars and other objects while calling out the names of specific inmates.

According to his account, the group went cell by cell, identifying inmates before forcibly removing several individuals, including fellow detainees identified as Sampath and Asman.

Seneviratne claimed that he and Asman were housed in the same cell and that those who entered appeared intent on targeting specific prisoners.

He alleged that prison officials, together with several others dressed in civilian clothes, entered the cell and carried out a violent assault using poles and iron bars.

According to Seneviratne, 45 inmates were housed in the ward at the time, but only a select group was taken based on what he described as a pre-determined list.

He further alleged that those individuals were subjected to severe assaults.

In one of the most striking claims made during the briefing, Seneviratne said he survived by smearing blood from an injured fellow inmate over his body and pretending to be dead.

He alleged that while some inmates were eventually returned to the ward, Asman was subjected to a particularly severe beating.

Seneviratne also claimed that the injured inmates were later transported to the prison hospital, where the mistreatment continued.

According to his account, several injured prisoners were allegedly kicked, stepped on and handled roughly upon arrival at the medical facility.

He claimed that Asman, Sampath and even he himself were stepped on while lying injured.

The former inmate further alleged that although several detainees were in critical condition, medical attention was not immediately directed toward the most seriously injured individuals.

Instead, he said, treatment was first administered to him despite only having a few visible injuries.

After being transferred to another ward, Seneviratne said he and other inmates heard fellow prisoners crying out in pain.

He claimed that it was sometime later that inmates were informed that Asman had died.

When questioned about whether the incident stemmed from a dispute between prison officers and inmates or among inmates themselves, Seneviratne insisted that only a specific group of 11 inmates from his cell section had been targeted.

He maintained that other prisoners were removed and later returned to their wards, while those in his group were allegedly taken from their cells and assaulted.

Answering questions about prison routines, he stated that cells were usually locked at around 5.30 p.m. but claimed that certain sections remained open for longer periods under specific circumstances.

He also denied that there had been any ongoing dispute between inmates and prison officers before the incident, alleging instead that even some officers who had previously maintained friendly relations with prisoners were among those who participated in the assault.

When contacted for a response, the Department of Prisons declined to comment directly on the allegations.

Prisons Department Media Spokesman Senaka Palletenna stated that as legal proceedings related to the incident are currently before the courts, it would be inappropriate for the Department to respond at this stage.

He did, however, confirm that an internal institutional inquiry is also underway into the incident.