Former MP Duminda Silva, a death row inmate convicted of the killing of Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra, was admitted to the National Hospital Colombo (NHSL) on 10 January due to a reportedly deteriorating health condition, just hours after being transferred from the prison hospital to a regular cell at Welikada Prison.

Silva, who had been in the prison hospital for an extended period, was granted a presidential pardon by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and subsequently appointed as Chairman of the National Housing Development Authority. However, the Supreme Court later nullified the pardon, resulting in Silva being re-incarcerated. Since then, he has received treatment at Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, the Prison Hospital, and a private hospital in Colombo.

Recently, the Prisons Department denied allegations of Silva receiving preferential treatment at the Prison Hospital, releasing photographs of Ward No. 3, where he had been treated alongside over 50 other inmates. Prisons Spokesman Gamini B. Dissanayake stated that a formal inquiry was conducted with the Director General of Health Services, and a medical board was appointed to assess whether Silva required further treatment at the Prison Hospital. Actions will be taken based on the board’s recommendations.