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Heritage buildings going to rack and ruin while NPP delays decision on ministerial residences, say former occupants
View(s):By Nidarshani Wickramasinghe
Deputy Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local Government, Ruwan Senarath, stated that the government has yet to decide on the criteria for allocating the houses.
This was once Dilum Amunugama's official residence. Pic by Priyankara Samaraweera
The NPP government reclaimed around 50 government houses and bungalows that had been occupied by former presidents, ministers, state ministers and public officials. The govt. said then that the buildings would be used for national investment ventures.
However most of these buildings are closed up and are deteriorating fast according to the former occupants.
Mr. Senarath, however said that the residences were being refurbished and a final decision on their distribution would be made following Cabinet approval. “A decision on the official purpose these houses are to be used for will be made at that point,” he said.
Meanwhile former State Minister of Investment Promotion Dilum Amunugama said when he handed over his official residence and vehicles he had requested that security personnel should be deployed.
However he said he got information that some of these premises were robbed by drug users.
“Even during my time there would be drug peddlers and burglars trying to break in and steal coconuts. I was compelled to arrange police security for the building. Then I was told that some drug addicts had broken in. If the government is interested in using official residences for other purposes, they must amend the law. Otherwise in the event of misuse of government property ministry secretaries will end up in prison, they know that perfectly well,” he said.
He said these houses cannot be turned into tourism projects or anything else as some of them are heritage buildings.
“What the current government is doing is nothing but a publicity stunt. It’s the same when they showed the cars on Galle Face. Some V8 cars were even sold off at such cheap prices that they could not even buy a double cab in return and then they were sold out in the streets at a higher price. All these are nothing but public deceptions,” he said.
Former Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that allowing these buildings, some which are century-old homes, to deteriorate and collapse demonstrates the present government’s lack of foresight and experience as administrators.
“When they requested that we vacate the official house and vehicles we did so without hesitation. Unfortunately, most of those houses are collapsing today. Many are over 100 years old. The bungalow I resided in was once occupied by a retired Air Force Commander. The present government has come to power on false promises. They are excellent speakers and spokesmen but lack hands-on experience in governance. For that reason they cannot take proper care of these houses, and they’re now in ruins,” he charged.
“Suppose there were 50 ministers in the cabinet those 50 houses are provided to so that they can serve among the people effectively. I used my house for conferences and meetings with ambassadors. We were open to the public and the media unlike today’s government we answered our phones 24 hours a day. Letting these official homes slide and sitting and doing nothing about them is a clear indication of ignorance and incompetence,,” he added.
Former Parliamentarian and General Secretary of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna Attorney-at-Law Sagara Kariyawasam said that Sri Lanka does not have any law authorising the usage of official ministerial residences for tourism or any other scheme.
“The JVP is attempting to seize power spreading hatred amongst the people. They tried to demonstrate the official residences, vehicles and other benefits given to the ministers as personal luxuries. But such luxuries are not given for personal leisure they are given to serve the nation’s interests in the future and to improve efficiency. That’s how it is in every country,” he said.
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