Sri Lanka, May 14 -- The Inter-University Students' Federation (IUSF) today (14) staged a protest demanding that the controversial Malwana property, widely known as an ownerless estate, be handed over for public use, including for universities.

The protesters said the move was intended to remind the current government of its pledge to "return to the people the properties stolen from the people" when it came to power.

The IUSF called on authorities to allocate the land and house for the use of universities facing space constraints as well as for broader public purposes.

The property, which spans around 15 acres, had previously been taken over by the Ministry of Justice after no legal owner was identified.

The development followed state...