“They broke the cell lock saying they would definitely kill Asman”: Bailed-out inmate

14-Aug-2026

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Nawod Dilshan, who was released on bail, alleged that prison officials had carried out a planned and brutal assault during the recent violent incident at Colombo’s Magazine Prison, during which fellow inmate Mohamed Asman Sherifdeen was beaten to death.

He made the allegation while speaking at a press conference held at the office of the Committee for the Protection of Prisoners’ Rights on August 13.

Dilshan said he had been remanded at Magazine Prison in December 2024 in connection with a case involving 50 grams of ‘ice’ narcotics and had remained there until August 5 while awaiting the conclusion of the case.

“I came here today to reveal the injustice inflicted on my fellow inmate Asman, who shared the same cell with me, and on the other inmates during the incident on August 6,” he said.

He alleged that a large group of people entered the prison at night while the inmates were sleeping, shouting names and carrying clubs and weapons.

“They went from cell to cell, calling out the names of inmates including Sampath and Asman, who were targeted, broke the cell locks with iron rods and forcibly dragged us out,” he alleged.

Dilshan said he and Asman had been staying in the same cell.

“They broke the lock while saying that they would definitely kill Asman. Several prison officials and many other people who were wearing civilian clothes entered our cell carrying clubs and iron rods and severely assaulted us,” he alleged.

He said there were 45 inmates in their ward and all 45 were called out and brutally assaulted using a list of names.

“Chief officer of Magazine Prison, Buddhika, and prison officers whom I could identify, including Isuru, Salkadu and Ranasinghe, as well as several other prison officers, were involved in the assault,” he alleged.

Dilshan said he survived by covering his body with blood and pretending to be unconscious.

“If I had not done that, I too would have been killed there. I saw it with my own eyes. Between 20 and 25 people, including prison officials, surrounded Asman and brutally assaulted him with iron rods,” he alleged.

He said the inmates were beaten until they lost consciousness in front of the prison ward before being dragged along the ground towards the main gate.

“I pretended to be lying there in pain, with blood covering my body and my jaw and tooth broken. My tooth was broken and my jaw was seriously injured. Those who beat the inmates on the list until they were barely alive killed Asman there while saying they would kill him,” he alleged.

Dilshan further alleged that the injured inmates were later taken back into the cells and beaten on their legs with clubs.

“More than nine people had suffered serious injuries, as far as I know. We were subsequently taken by vehicle to the prison hospital. The brutality continued there as well. They kicked us as we were getting down from the vehicle and even kicked me in the face while I was handcuffed,” he alleged.

He said he saw Asman lying unconscious in a pool of blood when the inmates were on the grass.

“Seven others are still in the intensive care unit. After some time, when treatment for the injuries began at the hospital, the doctors did not even attend to Asman or Sampath, who had suffered serious injuries. As I had only minor injuries, they wiped the blood from me and treated me. But they did not even look at Asman,” he alleged.

Dilshan said the inmates were subsequently locked in Ward One.

“In the early hours, I was in severe pain from the blows to my legs with an iron rod. Asman, Sampath and all my friends were crying out in pain. Early that morning, Asman asked for water. It was extremely painful for me to hear Asman, with whom I had shared meals, laughter and friendship in the same cell for six to eight months, asking for water,” he said.

He alleged that Asman had been responsible for maintaining their ward.

“Normally, the cells are locked at 5 p.m. However, because money and other favours are given to prison officials, inmates are sometimes allowed to keep the cells open until even 8 p.m. There was a good relationship with the officials and inmates were accustomed to showing them respect. The same officers who spoke and interacted with us cordially on normal days came that day calling out our names and carried out the assault,” he alleged.

Dilshan said that when Asman asked for water, he was only given a saline drip and did not receive proper treatment.

“His body had turned blue. A short while later, we were told that Asman had died,” he said.

He said medical reports had been issued to the seven inmates still at the prison hospital, but they had not been returned to Magazine Prison.

“They are living in fear of what might happen to them the next moment. They have not been transferred to another prison, and no one is allowed to speak with them,” Dilshan said.

He added that he had been released on bail the previous day.