Cabinet Spokesman criticises ex-President Mahinda over official residence

Wednesday, 29 January 2025 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister

Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa yesterday expressed disapproval of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s reluctance to vacate his official residence at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7, describing the situation as unbefitting of a leader who once held the highest office in the country.

Speaking at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing, he highlighted that other former Presidents including Ranil Wickremesinghe and Gotabaya Rajapaksa had vacated their official residences without controversy.

Dr. Jayatissa questioned why Mahinda Rajapaksa along with Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga and Maithripala Sirisena could not follow suit and leave with dignity. “This conduct does not suit their state as former Heads of State. It only serves to tarnish their image further,” he said.

The Cabinet Spokesman emphasised that such behaviour was unfair to the general public, whose tax revenues have been used to build and maintain these State-owned residencies.

He also stressed that as former Presidents, Rajapaksa, Kumaratunga and Sirisena have a duty to set an example. “These are not private residences but State-owned properties maintained at a significant cost to the taxpayers. It is unethical for them to continue to occupy these premises,” he claimed.

Dr. Jayatissa disclosed that Mahinda Rajapaksa’s official residence in Colombo 7 has seen significant expenses during 2021-2023, amounting to a staggering Rs. 473.52 million.

Giving a breakdown of expenses he said were used for construction materials (Rs. 140 million), ceiling work (Rs. 30.5 million), design fabric and steel panel installation (Rs. 32.7 million), electrical items and installation (Rs. 38.9 million), purchase of timber (Rs. 36.3 million), timber flooring work (Rs. 35.17 million), supply and installation of graphite (Rs. 35.8 million) and supply variable refrigerant flow (VRF) air conditioning system (Rs. 46.9 million).

He described the move as an “abuse of powers” for Rajapaksa’s benefit.

“If further justification is required, the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa can refer to the Court order which explicitly defines what constitutes an appropriate house,” Dr. Jayatissa said, implying that legal grounds already exist to mandate vacating the property.

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