The Divisional Secretary of Dompe has filed a police complaint over the alleged unlawful occupation of a state-owned property in Malwana, Gampaha, by a group affiliated with the Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF).
The complaint was lodged with the Dompe Police following an occupation that began on 14 May, when IUSF-affiliated activists entered and occupied a vacant house and land, demanding that the property be allocated for use by state universities.
A second complaint was filed on Friday by the New People’s Front, whose Deputy Leader Upatissa Kumaratunga told the media the students were being used as a political instrument by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.
He described the IUSF as a front for the JVP and urged students not to be deceived by a political agenda.
Kumaratunga also questioned the logic of the students’ demands, pointing out that two universities located near the site were more than 22 km away and suggested the property would be better preserved as a student hostel rather than being handed over to a university.
“This new Inter-University Students’ Federation is the cat’s paw of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna. We would like to tell these student activists that if they do not understand student struggles, they should bring a bench and we will teach them. There are already two universities near this location. The University of Kelaniya is 24 kilometres away, while the Yakkala Ayurveda University is 22 kilometres away. How can these students demand that this property be handed over to a university? The university authorities should preserve it as a student hostel.
He further noted that the building had suffered significant flood damage during Cyclone Ditwah, with approximately 50 feet of the structure submerged, leaving only the upper floor above water.
Kumaratunga said he expected police to act swiftly, noting that complaints had now been received from both the Divisional Secretary and a political party, and expressed confidence that the students occupying the property illegally would be removed soon.