By Saman Indrajith

Health and Mass Media Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa told Parliament yesterday that the government spent a colossal amount of public money on maintaining the official residences for former Presidents, particularly the one occupied by Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family.

Dr. Jayatissa criticised the Rajapaksas for continuing to live at the expense of the public.

The Minister said that Mahinda Rajapaksa resided in a state-owned house at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7. The property encompassed one acre and 13.8 perches, with a land value of Rs. 3,128.4 million and a building value of Rs. 229 million, amounting to a total valuation of Rs. 3,357.4 million. The imputed monthly rental was Rs. 4.6 million, he said.

Dr. Jayatissa said the government had spent Rs. 38.3 million on maintaining the property in 2024 alone. Additional expenses included Rs. 15.09 million for installing an escalator, Rs. 4.89 million for a generator, and Rs. 946,000 for renovations.

“Why should the people of this country, who are struggling to buy food, schoolbooks, and shoes for their children, bear the cost of maintaining a mansion for Mahinda Rajapaksa and his family?” Dr. Jayatissa asked. “He has three grown-up children—a Member of Parliament, a retired Navy officer, and a rocket scientist. Are they incapable of taking care of their parents? Why must public funds be used to sustain their lifestyle?”

The Minister highlighted that the property had not been a luxury mansion during Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presidency but it had been developed significantly with public money. Formerly the residence of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, the house had been expanded by annexing surrounding lands, with Rs. 43.04 million spent on upgrades to transform it into its current state.

Dr. Jayatissa contrasted Mahinda Rajapaksa’s actions with those of other leaders. He praised President Ranil Wickremesinghe and former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for declining similar offers, returning their government-provided residences. He also noted that incumbent President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had pledged not to accept such privileges after his term, setting an example of frugality.

The Minister’s speech included criticism of Mahinda Rajapaksa’s supporters in Parliament, who had defended his right to the luxury bungalow. “How do you justify the enormous burden placed on the public to maintain this house while millions struggle to make ends meet?” he asked.

Dr. Jayatissa also provided details of the values of bungalows allotted to former presidents and their widows.

A bungalow was allocated to Gotabaya Rajapaksa at Stanmore Crescent, Colombo 05. The land extended over one acre and four perches, with a land value of Rs. 2,542 million and a building value of Rs. 56.5 million. The total valuation by government valuers was Rs. 2,598.5 million. The monthly rental was assessed at Rs. 1.275 million. Gotabaya Rajapaksa has since handed over the house to the government.

A house was allocated to Ranil Wickremesinghe at Paget Road, Colombo 05. The land extended over one acre and 28.7 perches, with a land value of Rs. 3,019.2 million and a house value of Rs. 113 million. The total valuation was Rs. 3,132.2 million, with a monthly rental assessed at Rs. 2.9 million. Wickremesinghe declined the offer and returned to his own home after retirement.

Hema Premadasa, the widow of former President Ranasinghe Premadasa, had been occupying a bungalow at Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07. The land extended over one rood and 10.9 perches, valued at Rs. 890.8 million, while the house was valued at Rs. 42.8 million. The total valuation of the premises was Rs. 933.6 million, with a monthly rental assessed at Rs. 1.1 million. She handed over the house in 2023.

Maithripala Sirisena has been provided with a bungalow at Hector Kobbekaduwa Mawatha, Colombo 07. The land spans one rood and 15.1 perches, valued at Rs. 964.3 million, while the building is valued at Rs. 41.2 million. The total valuation of the premises is Rs. 1,005.5 million, with a monthly rental assessed at Rs. 900,000. Sirisena continues to occupy the premises.

Details of the bungalow allocated to Chandrika Kumaratunga are not yet available, as the assessment process had to be postponed as she was away from the country. She has stated that she will allow her properties to be valued upon her return. Dr. Jayatissa said that these figures would be presented to Parliament in due course.

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s Office has issued instructions to ministers and deputy ministers setting limits for their staff, vehicles and expenses.

Secretary to the President Dr. N. S. Kumanayake has said that a minister can have a staff of 15 members and that number has been limited to 12 for a deputy minister.

The ministers and deputy ministers must recruit most of their support staff from those already in the state service and none of the support staff should include family members or close relatives, the President’s Office has said.

The number of overtime hours has been capped at 180 per month.

The President’s Office also outlined provisions regarding ministers’ and deputy ministers’ official vehicles, fuel allocations and telephone expenses.

A maximum of two official vehicles will be allocated for their use, and if the ministers and deputy ministers use vehicles that belong to the state or rent vehicles from a private party, the Ministry Secretary has to ensure that procurements is done as per instructions given by the Presidential Secretariat and existing regulations.

 Ministers and deputy ministers will be allocated up to 900 litres of fuel per month for their official vehicles.

The Private Secretary, Coordinating Secretary, Press Secretary, and Public Relations Officer of ministers and deputy ministers can use one official vehicle each, Dr. N.S. Kumanayake said.

 Ministers and deputy ministers will be provided with four phones and one fax machine and the monthly allowance is Rs 10,000 for the mobile phone and Rs 20,000 for the office phone. The ministerial staff cannot procure mobile phones using state funds, the instructions said.These rules and regulations are effective from 06 January 2025.

by Ifham Nizam 

Sri Lanka’s decision to grant permission for an Adani Group renewable energy project has raised significant concerns among environmentalists, economists, and the local communities.

Environmental Scientist Hemantha Withanage told The Island, immediately after launching the South Asia Just Transition Alliance Report on three cross border energy projects in South Asia in Nepal, that despite its portrayal as a clean energy initiative, the project serves broader geopolitical and economic interests while posing risks to Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and environment.

Withanage, an environmentalist and the Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Justice, has been vocal about the potential consequences of such projects. “Adani’s power plant in Sri Lanka is not just about renewable energy. It’s a part of a larger political game that prioritises profit over people and nature.” He said that the proposed plant, part of an agreement between India and Sri Lanka, focused on renewable energy, yet experts questioned its true environmental benefits.

“Renewable energy projects can still cause significant environmental degradation if not planned carefully. Clearing vast tracts of land and disrupting ecosystems will have long-lasting consequences.”

The ecological cost includes threats to local biodiversity and potential pollution during construction. This directly conflicts with Sri Lanka’s efforts to protect its natural heritage and fragile ecosystems, already under pressure from unsustainable development projects.

He added that another pressing issue was the transparency of the project and its implications for Sri Lanka’s autonomy. Critics, including Withanage, believe that the deal reflects unequal power dynamics, with Sri Lanka acquiescing to India’s strategic ambitions. “It’s alarming how such projects are pushed forward with minimal public consultation or environmental assessments,” Withanage said.

The concerns align with a pattern observed in other regions where large multinational corporations, including Adani, have pursued projects often criticized for bypassing local regulations.

 “What we need are sustainable and locally-driven energy solutions, not projects that exploit our resources and communities,” Withanage said.