The government plans to economically utilize presidential residences and VIP houses

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a plan to establish an appropriate system for the use of bungalows, ‘Visumpaya’, and presidential residences in different regions across the island, which are managed by the Ministry of Public Administration, in an economically beneficial manner.

At present, there are 50 government bungalows set up in Colombo 05 and 07, alongside the presidential residences found in Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Mahiyanganaya, Anuradhapura, Kataragama, Jaffna, Embilipitiya, and Bentota, all managed by the Presidential Secretariat.” said Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa the Minister of Health and Mass Media, Chief Government Whip and Cabinet Spokesperson of Sri Lanka.

He said, “However, except for the presidential residences in Colombo and Kandy, the other houses are not used regularly.”

In addition to the presidential residences, the official residences of several heads of state are also administered by the Urban Development Authority (UDA).

There is also a Prime Minister’s Official Residence established in Nuwara Eliya under the administration of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Despite spending a large amount of funds on the maintenance of these government properties, the properties are underutilized.

Given this situation, the President and the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government have submitted a collaborative proposal to implement an appropriate method for economically leveraging those properties.

Thus, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the appointment of a committee to look into the matter and propose necessary recommendations. The committee chaired by an Additional Secretary named by the Secretary of the UDA will comprise the following officials;  An Additional Secretary named by the Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration,  An Additional Secretary or a senior officer named by the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance,  An Additional Secretary named by the Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism,  Director General of the Department of Archaeology,  Director General of the National Physical Planning Department,  Director General of the UDA, and An official named by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.

People say that this decision taken by the President and Ministers is a great step on behalf of the people in the country.

“All these are high expenses, but not even income of a penny. Now through this new move, the government will have some income, and people in the country will benefit from that income.

END.