The Prime Minister has agreed to transfer a controversial property in Malwana to the University Grants Commission

The Prime Minister has agreed to transfer a controversial plot of land in Malwana to the University Grants Commission
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has agreed to the demands of a group of university student activists, to transfer a state-owned property to the University Grants Commission.

The Prime Minister met with members of the Inter-University Students' Federation (IUSF) on Monday (May 18), and agreed to transfer the property in Malwana which is currently in the custody of the Dompe Divisional Secretariat, to the UGC.

The ownership of the premises has been a topic of discussion in the past, having been linked to former MP Basil Rajapaksa, though no legal owner was ever identified and it is now held by the state.

Background

A group of Inter-University students entered the Malwana house on May 14th, demanding that property 'stolen from public tax money' be transferred to public ownership.

They claimed that university students were facing problems due to the insufficient space within universities and higher education institutions.

They demanded that this property be handed over to the University Grants Commission to be converted into a university.

Discussions

Discussions between IUSF representatives and officials of the Ministry of Education were held on Saturday (May 16) but with no resolution reached, the occupation of the Malwana property continued.

However, a meeting with the Prime Minister on Monday led to a consensus being reached, with the land now set to be transferred to the UGC.

"We are ready to listen to the concerns of university students. Decisions should be reached only after discussions with all relevant parties and following broad and careful supervision," a statement released by Prime Minister Amarasuriya read.

"We will take necessary steps to transfer the Malwana land to the University Grants Commission, conduct a feasibility study, and thereafter hand it over to a suitable higher education institution."

Basil's Ownership

The Malwana property, which was once valued at Rs. 250 million, has been linked to Basil Rajapaksa, even though Rajapaksa has denied the claims.

He was also acquitted and released in 2022 from a case where he faced allegations of misappropriation of public funds for the construction of a mansion in Malwana.

With no legal owner identified, the property was subsequently taken over by the State.