IUSF Occupies Malwana Property Linked to Basil Rajapaksa, Demands Public Use
The Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) today launched a dramatic protest demanding that the Malwana land and luxury mansion — believed to be linked to former Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna National Organizer Basil Rajapaksa and currently under court investigation — be immediately handed over for university use or public welfare projects.
The massive luxury property, situated on 16 acres of land in the Malwana area of Gampaha, had previously become the subject of investigations by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division, which alleged that it was constructed using funds connected to Basil Rajapaksa.
However, during court proceedings, Basil Rajapaksa and other related parties reportedly denied ownership of the land and mansion. As a result, the property has long been described as “ownerless” in legal discussions. Taking advantage of this legal ambiguity, the students argued that the government should formally take over the valuable property and utilize it for public benefit programs.
This morning, students marched to the site and, despite police roadblocks, entered the property and began what they described as a “direct occupation protest.”
Student representatives stated that Sri Lankan universities are currently facing severe shortages of student accommodation, classroom space, and laboratory facilities. They emphasized that it is unacceptable for such large properties — allegedly acquired through corruption — to remain abandoned while public universities continue to struggle with limited resources.
