Colombo, March 19 – An inmate who was injured in an assault during a drug test at the Magazine Prison has reportedly succumbed to his injuries. According to reports, two prison officers and two fellow inmates have been charged in connection with the brutal attack.
The deceased, identified as 54-year-old Hewadheera Don Gemunujith, was a father of one. He had been arrested and remanded by the Maharagama Police on the 23rd of last month on charges of trafficking the drug.
According to police sources, the incident took place on the 26th when two prison officers at the Colombo Magazine Prison attempted to conduct a drug test on the suspect, suspecting that he was in possession of the drug Ice. When the suspect allegedly swallowed the drug, the officers, along with two other inmates, reportedly assaulted him in an attempt to force him to vomit the substance.
The inmate, who sustained serious injuries due to the assault, was initially admitted to the prison hospital before being transferred to the Colombo National Hospital for further treatment. Despite receiving medical attention, he succumbed to his injuries on the afternoon of the 16th.
Investigations conducted by the Borella Police have revealed that fellow inmates witnessed the assault. According to their statements, after swallowing the drug, the suspect was subjected to a brutal beating by the two prison officers and two inmates, who also forced him to drink two bottles of salt water in an attempt to induce vomiting.
The incident has prompted a judicial inquiry, with Colombo Additional Magistrate Sampath Jayawardena overseeing the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the assault and subsequent death.
Authorities are expected to take stringent legal action against those responsible, as concerns continue to rise over the treatment of inmates and the handling of drug-related offenses within prison facilities.
Further investigations are underway.
