The Inter‑University Students’ Federation (IUSF) announced that Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya has agreed to hand over the disputed land and house in Malwana, currently under the Dompe Divisional Secretariat, to the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The decision was conveyed following a discussion held at the Prime Minister’s Office today (18). 

Convenor Sasindu Perera told the media that the Prime Minister had promised to expedite the transfer of the property to the UGC.

Following successful discussions with Prime Minister Amarasuriya today, a group of university students agreed to vacate the disputed Malwana residence they had occupied since May 14. 

Perera said the students were now making arrangements to leave the premises in response to the government’s commitment.

The IUSF had earlier demanded that the property, once linked to former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and later without an owner, be allocated for university use. 

Students argued that such assets should be used to establish faculty complexes and hostels to address space shortages in higher education institutions. (Newswire)

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A special discussion on the request made by university students regarding the Malwana property linked to former Minister Basil Rajapaksa is scheduled to take place today (18) under the leadership of Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, it was reported.

According to NewsFirst, the meeting, to be held at the Prime Minister’s Office, will bring together relevant stakeholders. 

It is reported that decisions on future steps are expected following the discussion.

On May 14, students of the Inter‑University Students’ Federation (IUSF) entered the Malwana mansion, said to have once belonged to former Minister Basil Rajapaksa and later left without an owner. 

They demanded that properties allegedly acquired through public tax money be handed back to the people.

The students have urged that such assets be allocated for the establishment of faculty complexes and hostels, citing space shortages within universities. (Newswire)

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Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Jagath Vithana has alleged that the government has effectively allowed student activists to seize the controversial Malwana property once linked to former minister Basil Rajapaksa.

“A group has unlawfully broken into the property, seized it, and is cleaning it, while the Police stand and watch. Should we not ask who gave them this right? It is definitely the government,” MP Vithana charged, speaking to reporters.

He warned that such actions could foster unrest and even terrorism if left unchecked.

The property, previously denied by Basil Rajapaksa as his own, was taken over by the state after attempts to auction it were obstructed. 

Vithana stressed that government assets belong to the citizens of the country and must be safeguarded.

Meanwhile, members of the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) occupied the Malwana premises yesterday (14), declaring it should be handed over for public use. 

Student activists argued that successive governments had failed to utilize properties allegedly acquired through public funds and urged authorities to allocate the land to universities facing severe space shortages.

The IUSF said it had launched a “direct struggle” and vowed to continue occupying the property until authorities respond to their demands. (Newswire)

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Members of the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) have occupied the controversial Malwana property allegedly linked to former minister Basil Rajapaksa, claiming the land should be handed over for public use.

Student activists claimed the property had previously been described as having “no owner”, before later being taken over by the State.

Speaking at the site, IUSF representatives alleged that successive governments had failed to properly utilise properties allegedly acquired using public funds and called on authorities to allocate the land to universities facing severe space shortages.

They argued that universities continue to face infrastructure and land constraints while valuable State-controlled land remains unused.

The students further claimed the Government had come to power promising to recover assets allegedly obtained through corruption and return them to the public, alleging that meaningful action had not yet been taken.

The IUSF said it had launched a “direct struggle” over the issue and had begun occupying the property until authorities respond to their demands.

Police officers were also seen at the location during the protest. (Newswire)

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A new group that has claimed to be the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) says it has power over the student movement, due to the involvement of student councils from several universities in Sri Lanka. 

Addressing the media, Convenor of the new IUSF Sasindu Perera said that the era of students being manipulated to serve the interests of certain groups is over. 

He further said that due to the IUSF being deemed as puppets of certain groups in the past, a decision had to be taken to form the IUSF again with the support of various student councils of several universities.

“In the past, the public had a view that the IUSF works in the interests of certain groups. So we needed to engage with other student councils and form the IUSF, which will now genuinely represent the students and their needs. We have created an independent IUSF that will solely work for the benefit of the university students and the public,” he said. 

Sasindu Perera also alleged that the government was making decisions pertaining to educational reforms without consulting students and lecturers. 

He expressed hope that the current government, unlike previous administrations, would include suggestions by students pertaining to education reforms. 

Sasindu Perera warned that the student movement will resort to various actions if the government fails to consider its proposals. (Newswire)

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The Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) has accused the government of attempting to create chaos within the student movement by using their party representatives as university student leaders to push through their privatization plans in the education sector.

Issuing a statement, the IUSF said that this is being done using the respected name, official logos and letterheads of the Inter-University Students’ Federation.

The IUSF’s statement comes in the backdrop of a new group claiming to be the IUSF, having announced the appointment of a new convenor at a media briefing held on Sunday (20).

The new student group had also created social media accounts, including a Facebook page, claiming they are the IUSF.

Denying these claims, the IUSF has issued a clarification statement on its official Facebook page, accusing the government of attempting to create issues in the student movement. 

“Without being deceived by these false narratives and ideas, we call upon the entire university community and the general public to come forward to defeat the current Government’s oppressive agenda,” the IUSF said in its statement. 

Emphasizing its continued fight against the privatization of education, the IUSF urged the public not to be misled by the false propaganda of the Government, which it says has confused students and citizens. (Newswire)

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Nine (09) persons, including the Convener of the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF), have been arrested for staging a protest in front of the Health Ministry.

The group has been arrested on charges of having violated a court order.

Earlier today, a court order was issued preventing the protesters from entering the hospital square in Colombo and the vicinity of the Health Ministry.

The court order prevented the protesters from any action that could disturb the hospitals from 12.00 noon today until 05.00 pm tomorrow (17 May). (Newswire)

9 suspects, including IUSF Convener, arrested for staging a protest in front of the Health Ministry, accused of violating a court order. pic.twitter.com/qAbeZeYrJ1

— NewsWire (@NewsWireLK) May 16, 2025

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A protest will be held in Colombo on Thursday (24 Apr), organized by the Allied Health Sciences graduates and the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF), demanding the abolition of unregulated institutions offering health-related degrees.

The organizers claim these so-called “degree shops” are putting lives at risk and harming the quality of the country’s healthcare system by producing unqualified graduates. 

They further said that such institutions undermine the credibility of degrees awarded by state universities.

The protest aims to urge authorities to take strict action against unregulated private degree programs in the health sector. 

Students and recent graduates from across the country are expected to take part in the demonstration. (Newswire)

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The Fort Magistrate’s Court has issued an order against a planned protest in Colombo today.

Accordingly, the court order is against a protest planned by the Frontline Socialist Party and Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF).

The court order, obtained by the Police, prevents the protesters from entering the Colombo-Fort and Galle Face areas. (Newswire)

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Two persons, including the convenor of the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF), who were remanded for violating a court order, have been granted bail.

The Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court today released IUSF Convener Madushan Chandrajith and another person on 2 sureties of Rs. 01 million each.

A group of student activists were arrested during a protest held near the Health Ministry, defying a court order on 28 March. 

However, the court remanded only two persons and granted bail to 25 student activists. (Newswire)

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Two persons, including the convenor of the Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF), who were arrested for violating a court order, have been remanded.

The duo were remanded until 04 April 2025 by the Maligakanda Magistrate’s Court today. 

Meanwhile, 25 other students, who were among the students arrested during a protest, have been released on bail.

The arrests were made during a protest that was held by students near the Health Ministry, defying a court order. (Newswire)

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The Fort Magistrate’s Court has issued an order preventing the Convenor of the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) and others from entering several prominent state institutions in Colombo during a protest planned today. 

The Police said IUSF convenor Madushan Chandrajith and others have been prohibited from entering the Presidential Secretariat, President’s House, Finance Ministry premises, etc. in Colombo.

They added that the protesters have also been prohibited from inconveniencing pedestrians or vehicular traffic on several roads in Colombo from 01.00 pm to 06.00 pm today. 

The protest is to be conducted calling on the government to grant various concessions to the Education and Higher Education sectors. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved an increase in the Mahapola scholarship premium and bursary premium for university students, marking the first adjustment since 2015. 

Following a joint proposal by the Minister of Education and the Minister of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security, the Cabinet granted approval to raise the Mahapola scholarship premium to Rs. 7,500 and the bursary premium to Rs. 6,500, effective from April 2025.

Meanwhile, the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) staged a protest today against the national education policy and the establishment of private universities.

Several members of the IUSF including its convenor were apprehended while participating in the protest near the Fort Railway Station.

However, the protest was dispersed by officials of the Election Commission with the assistance of the Police.  (Newswire) 

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The Police fired water cannons to disperse a protest staged by the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) in Colombo today.

The Police had resorted to action in a bid to disperse the protesters near Borella Junction.

It is reported that two protesters, including the Convenor of the IUSF Madushan Chandrajith, have been arrested.

The protest was staged based on several demands, including against the alleged move to privatise education. (NewsWire)

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The Police have used water cannons to disperse a protest march carried out by the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) today.

The Police took action to disperse the protesters in the Kirulapone and Town Hall areas this afternoon.

The IUSF protest is being staged over several demands, including objecting to allowing three private universities to grant medical degrees, and matters related to the proposed Labour Law, Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), and International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposals. 

Earlier today, the Fort and Maligakanda Courts had issued orders prohibiting the protesters’ entry to certain parts of Colombo. (NewsWire)

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The Fort Magistrate’s Court has prohibited members of the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) from entering certain areas in Colombo during a planned protest today. 

The court order has been issued based on a request made by the Police on the possible inconvenience caused to the public and damages to public property. 

Accordingly, the court order prohibits the IUSF protesters from entering several areas in Colombo, including the Presidential Secretariat, President’s House, the Prime Minister’s Office, Central Bank, and the Galle Face Green from 09.00 am to 06.00 pm today.

Ten (10) IUSF members, including its convenor Withanage Madushan Chandrajith, have been named as respondents.

The IUSF has planned to stage a protest today over several key demands, including raising objections to allowing three private universities in Sri Lanka to grant medical degrees, and matters related to the proposed Labour Law, Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), and International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposals. (NewsWire)

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The Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) is set to hold a protest in Colombo tomorrow (Aug. 10) over several key demands.

According to the IUSF, the protest will be held to object to the granting of degree-awarding status to three private universities in Sri Lanka and raise objections to matters related to the proposed Labour Law, Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), and International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposals.

The IUSF is set to hold the protest in Colombo, with several other state university student associations also having extended their support for the protest. (NewsWire)

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The Police fired water cannons to disperse a group of protesting student monks near the Lipton Roundabout in Colombo today.

Police initiated action after student Buddhist monks of the Inter-University Students Federation staged a protest march towards the University Grants Commission in Colombo.

The protest march was conducted against the reduction in student enrollment for various subjects at universities. 

Video: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=256219293926422&t=0 (NewsWire)

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Al Jazeera journalist Minelle Fernandez was hit by a water cannon while reporting on a students’ march in Sri Lanka’s capital, Colombo yesterday.

The Inter-University Student’s Federation (IUSF) staged a protest yesterday to demand the release of activists detained during last year’s anti-government protests.

The Police fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters at Wijerama Junction in Nugegoda, during which Al Jazeera journalist Minelle Fernandez was caught in the crossfire. (NewsWire)

Al Jazeera’s Minelle Fernandez was hit by a water cannon while reporting on a students’ march in Sri Lanka’s capital to demand the release of activists detained during last year’s anti-gov't protests pic.twitter.com/jWGS7kKQE6

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 7, 2023

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The Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse a protest march carried out by the Inter-University Students Federation (IUSF) near Nugegoda today.

The Police took measures to disperse the protesters near Wijerama Junction in Nugegoda this afternoon.

The IUSF protest is being held over several key demands, including the detention of its members Kelum Muddannayake and Dilshan Harshana, calling for an increase in the Mahapola Student Allowance, reduction in the cost of living, and the repealing of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). (NewsWire)

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