Cabinet Spokesman calls on MR to vacate residence

Wednesday, 22 January 2025 00:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa

Opines Govt. got mandate to reduce privileges of politicians to ease financial burden of governance on citizens
Says MR, as a father of three grown sons, is in a position where his family can provide for him and his wife

By Charumini de Silva

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday called on former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to vacate his official residence in adherence to the President’s Entitlements Act. Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing, he clarified that the law which governs the privileges of former President’s, clearly stipulates their entitlements including the allocation of one-third of a President’s salary as post-tenure benefits.

“If the former President understands the provisions of this Act, which his own Government enforced, he should act accordingly and leave the residence without waiting to be asked,” Dr. Jayatissa said, responding to a question posed at the media briefing.

Cabinet Spokesman’s comments follow President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s remarks last Sunday during an address in Katukurunda, where he disclosed that the monthly rent for Rajapaksa’s Wijerama Road residence in Colombo 7 had been valued at Rs. 4.6 million.

Dissanayake suggested that Rajapaksa either pay the assessed rent or vacate the property. “This rule applies to everyone. The public had clearly given us a mandate to reduce the privileges of politicians to ease the financial burden of governance on citizens,” Dr. Jayatissa added.

The Cabinet Spokesman also highlighted that Rajapaksa, as a father of three grown sons, is in a position where his family can provide for him and his wife.

Although there has been no immediate response from Rajapaksa’s camp regarding the latest comments, his earlier statement indicated a willingness to vacate the residence if formally asked.