Wishma Sandamali, a 33-year-old woman from Sri Lanka, tragically passed away while detained at a Japanese immigration center in Nagoya. She had been held for seven months after overstaying her student visa and seeking refugee status.
Her death is the 18th case of a foreigner dying in Japanese immigration detention since 2007. Her family is suing the Japanese government, alleging negligence in providing proper food and healthcare during her detention. CCTV footage revealed her distressing health decline, and activists raised concerns about the treatment of detainees in such centers.
Wishma arrived in Japan in 2017 on a student visa but later faced challenges, stopped attending classes, and applied for refugee status, which was denied.
She suffered health issues and was arrested for overstaying her visa, leading to detention in Nagoya. Despite pleading for medical attention and provisional release, her requests were denied, and her health continued to worsen.
The Ratnayake family is determined to seek justice for Wishma and hold the Japanese government accountable for her death. The CCTV footage provided crucial evidence, but public opinion in Japan remains varied. Wishma's case sparked discussion and calls for immigration system reforms, but controversial amendments were still passed.
Wishma's journey to Japan reflected her love for Japanese culture and her aspirations to live there. However, her health declined, and her family was unaware of her struggles until her tragic death in detention.
The family faces challenges in seeking justice, but they remain determined to fight for accountability. Wishma's case raised concerns about Japan's immigration system and the treatment of detainees, sparking public debate and calls for reform.