The Inter-University Students’ Federation staged a protest today (14), urging authorities to allocate the Malwana property widely referred to as an ownerless estate for public use, including for universities facing space constraints.

Protesters said the demand was in line with the government’s earlier pledge to return properties “stolen from the people” and ensure their use for public benefit.

The property, spanning around 15 acres, was previously taken over by the Ministry of Justice after no legal owner was identified. It later became subject to legal proceedings, during which lawyers representing former Minister Basil Rajapaksa informed the court that he had no connection to the estate.

A subsequent court ruling ordered that the property be auctioned.

During the ‘Aragalaya’ protest movement, parts of the property were also damaged after being set on fire by unidentified individuals.

Although there were proposals to establish an International Judges’ Research and Training Centre at the site, the plan has not been implemented.

The IUSF has now formally called for the property to be transferred for educational and public purposes, including use by universities experiencing infrastructure shortages.