Antare storms Basil's house in Malwana

The Inter-University Students' Federation (IUSF) entered the premises yesterday (14) and took custody of a highly probable mansion and 16 acres of land located in the Malwana area, demanding that the government intervene and immediately hand it over to the university system. Although it was stated for a long time that this property belonged to Mr. Basil Rajapaksa, it was later placed under the Ministry of Justice due to no owner coming forward. The students who occupied it have remained there and commenced their protest.

In the face of the severe space shortage faced by the current university system, student leaders emphasized that such properties should not be limited to being taken over by the government, but steps should be taken to practically utilize them for the educational needs of students. They believe that this large land area and building can be utilized as a solution to the space problems in universities located especially around Colombo.

Student activists, recalling the government's promise to return stolen property to the people, point out that this property, declared to have no owner, should be treated as a public asset. Stating that the occupation of this land is a decision taken to secure the educational rights of future generations, they also requested that security forces should not obstruct this.

It is reported that the Inter-University Students' Federation (IUSF), based on these demands, engaged in various protests, public awareness campaigns, and discussions with authorities over the past few weeks, but due to not receiving a proper solution, this decisive step was taken. The students, stating that they are advocating for the right to education, are camping within the premises and are preparing to lead a continuous struggle.