Doctor Testifies Wishma Sandamali's Death in Japan Immigration Facility Was Preventable

Introduction to the Case

A medical expert testified in the Nagoya District Court on Wednesday, January 29, 2026, that the death of Sri Lankan detainee Wishma Sandamali in a Japanese immigration facility in 2021 was preventable. The testimony came during a lawsuit filed by Sandamali's bereaved family against the Japanese government, seeking damages over her death.

Medical Expert's Testimony on Preventable Death

Dr. Masamune Shimo, the testifying physician, stated that Sandamali's life could have been saved at three distinct junctures. He attributed her death at the Nagoya immigration facility to a combination of factors, including severe dehydration and starvation. This led to reduced blood circulation and a vitamin B1 deficiency, ultimately causing her to develop beriberi heart disease. Dr. Shimo concluded that Sandamali eventually fell into shock, resulting in multiple organ failure.

According to Dr. Shimo, the first opportunity for intervention arose approximately three weeks before her death, when a urine test showed abnormal values indicative of starvation. He emphasized that 'It is standard to perform a blood test and provide an intravenous drip' in such cases. Further critical junctures were identified two days prior to and on the day of her death, when her blood pressure became unmeasurable and abnormal deep breathing was observed. Dr. Shimo asserted that 'Measures such as mechanical ventilation and dialysis should have been taken, and it is not unlikely that her life could have been saved at these points as well.'

Deteriorating Health and Unheeded Calls for Aid

Wishma Sandamali, who was 33 years old at the time of her death on March 6, 2021, had been taken into custody in August 2020 for overstaying her visa. Reports indicate that she had been complaining of stomach pain and other symptoms since mid-January 2021. During her detention, she experienced significant weight loss, dropping approximately 20 kilograms (44 pounds). In her final days, she was reportedly vomiting blood and was so weak she had lost control of her limbs. Her supporters made multiple requests between February 3 and March 3 for her to be transferred to a hospital, receive intravenous therapy, or be granted provisional release, but these requests were denied.

An investigation by the Immigration Services Agency of Japan in August 2021 acknowledged that staff at the facility 'lacked awareness of handling crises, and there were problems with the center's medical and information sharing system.'

Ongoing Legal Battle and Systemic Scrutiny

The lawsuit filed by Sandamali's family seeks accountability and damages from the government. The case has brought intense scrutiny to Japan's immigration detention system, which has faced criticism for its strict policies and the conditions within its facilities. Wishma Sandamali's death marked the 17th fatality in Japanese immigration detention since 2007.

A significant aspect of the legal proceedings involves 295 hours of surveillance footage from the facility covering the period leading up to her death. While the family has demanded full disclosure, only about five hours of this footage have been released as court evidence.