State houses of former leaders to be reclaimed from September: President

26 August 2025 05:28 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 62 Bookmark

A A A

Join our WhatsApp Channel

Colombo, August 26 (Daily Mirror) - President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced today that the government will reclaim all state-owned houses allocated to former Presidents, once new legislation is passed in September.

Addressing a public event in Colombo, the President said the move is part of his administration’s wider effort to ensure equality before the law and end privileges that undermine public trust in governance.

“The law will be enforced equally on all citizens. Those found guilty of corruption will face strict punishment, no matter their position or influence,” he stressed.

He added that providing luxury state housing for former leaders while the country is grappling with an economic crisis was unacceptable. “We cannot continue to burden the people with unnecessary expenses while asking them to make sacrifices,” he noted.

Comments - 62

Rogue Tuesday, 26 August 2025 05:38 PM

Great news.

18 129

Jagath Wednesday, 27 August 2025 02:27 AM

Should cease all assets, most of them belong to the people of the country.

0 10

Zarook Thursday, 04 September 2025 05:52 PM

PKD Pacha Kumara no action Pacha talking only. Enjoying super luxuries similar to kaputas. Relaxing at Hummingbird.

1 1

Rojer Wednesday, 27 August 2025 06:48 AM

Good, but start by publishing the list of houses (and the occupants) to be reclaimed. The public should know these details.

0 11

Finally Common Sense And Fairness Being Practice Tuesday, 26 August 2025 05:55 PM

So agree with AKD! This is what was supposed to be done many years ago. Country has always been struggling financially and shamefully accepting donations from other countries who themselves are taking from their taxpayers. Those taxpayers work hard unlike the average SL citizens and politicians who enjoys the world’s highest amount of public holidays on top of their annual and medical leave! It’s time the country with quality leadership must be sustainable and not depend on FOC donations in every sector of the economy.

15 151

mk Tuesday, 26 August 2025 05:59 PM

uv been saying that for one year! now that ur govt anniversary is around the corner, and uv got nothing to show for, u have got excited. GOHOMEPACHAYA

158 56

Stop Seeking FOC Funds And Equipments Also Tuesday, 26 August 2025 06:02 PM

As a foreigner, notice SL is always seeking FOC fundings and Equipments. But many of the SL Politicians and Elite class are having posh homes, vehicles and money making business. You are shamelessly asking FOC fundings and Equipments from countries whose Taxpayers are busting their own funds to provide for your wellbeing. Something is not correct and it’s time SL stops this madness and shameful behaviour.

5 131

CJay Wednesday, 27 August 2025 07:00 AM

What's the country of your origin ? Are you working here ? You need to share that before virtue signaling ! Post independence there have been so many trigger points due to foreign influence.....no sooner this country is on an upward trajectory some country/s interfere...latests version has brough in the current regime to power !!!

9 1

Lalith Amerasinghr Tuesday, 26 August 2025 06:03 PM

There are more burning issues in the country than reclaiming state houses of former presidents.You have not address any burning issues people suffering with after being in power for more than 07 months

142 70

DPerera Tuesday, 26 August 2025 06:11 PM

Now you should not use government security when you visit your mother or go political meetings

113 77

ram Tuesday, 26 August 2025 06:14 PM

President forever!! well done!!

52 118

Kandy man Tuesday, 26 August 2025 06:28 PM

Hats off to the president who is truly working for the well being of the country.

36 124

Sean Wednesday, 27 August 2025 09:26 AM

First you should reduce the state employees and see how can use the them more efficiently!!

1 2

Dr Tissa Fernando Tuesday, 26 August 2025 06:37 PM

What about destruction of economy for last 60 years by JVP? No justice on that ? What about murders carried out by JVP? No justice? Are you not eating free meals at work? So is that not use of public funds for private use.? You get paid by Pachawatte office.

127 69

Rogue Tuesday, 26 August 2025 09:47 PM

You are an absolute idiot.

46 109

Zarook Wednesday, 27 August 2025 09:02 AM

You mean PKD?

5 2

Mizaru Tuesday, 26 August 2025 10:25 PM

An absolute pin head.

21 74

Spartacus Wednesday, 27 August 2025 04:21 AM

All the uprisings in Sri Lanka were youth uprisings. If there was a careful unbiased study of the reasons behind these uprisings, it is about poor governance and empathy, bad untimely political decisions, unaccountable and rash development, poor solutions to problems of youth resources, education

2 3

R Navaratnam Wednesday, 27 August 2025 07:00 AM

You are a learned person and the chosen words in your message are of concern. Feel free to share your opinion in an educated way. Very disturbingDr. Tissa.

2 3

Herman Perera Wednesday, 27 August 2025 12:19 PM

Depends on what Medication he takes.

0 0

Norman Ramanayake Wednesday, 27 August 2025 10:11 AM

Are you really a Dr of some sort or its a Pseudo name you use? Forgive me for pointing out but your language and choice of words are childishly emotional. There are much better ways to express a public opinion. Use Chat GPT in case you find it difficult to do so.

0 3

Nihal Tuesday, 26 August 2025 06:40 PM

Excellent, please proceed with the plans. We support it.

19 101

Kamal Tuesday, 26 August 2025 06:42 PM

To be fielded by the gallery.

10 44

Bd Tuesday, 26 August 2025 06:43 PM

What achievement. Gallery must be clapping

13 49

Janu K Tuesday, 26 August 2025 07:06 PM

How about requesting for the payment of outstanding utility bills by the MPs living in the Madiwela Housing Complex? Will legislation have to be passed to recover same?

2 79

Priyan66 Tuesday, 26 August 2025 07:18 PM

Very good move

8 98

Perera Tuesday, 26 August 2025 07:24 PM

New legislation is challenged in courts and the court decisions not been finalised. But the president says he will implement the new legislation once it is passed by the parliament in September. Isn't it contemp of the court?

48 28

Abd Tuesday, 26 August 2025 07:25 PM

Don’t look back,when you are doing right thing, few might get hurt and try to oppose you but majority and justice with you,

9 57

Chris De Silva Tuesday, 26 August 2025 07:33 PM

Well done,

10 55

Ganesh Tuesday, 26 August 2025 08:28 PM

Then stop buying double cabs and start fixing the pile of vehicles your comrade Wasantha proudly flaunted online. That alone would save foreign reserves. Practice what you preach—if online meetings are good enough for the rest of us, they should be good enough for you instead of jetting off for a day or two.

52 37

Rogue Tuesday, 26 August 2025 09:54 PM

I'm surprised that you managed to string two sentences together in English. What you say is bull dust. Full marks for trying. Many would call you an idiot.

28 36

bakamuna Tuesday, 26 August 2025 10:42 PM

all hail, great job NPP.

9 40

DHA Tuesday, 26 August 2025 11:13 PM

Good news but pls put what your saying into action as well ! You just became unpopular in RW's case remember most of the people who voted for you are individuals of other parties they can easily turn against you if you keep applying the wrong formula!

7 43

Foot note Wednesday, 27 August 2025 08:41 AM

Vengeance venom spray to justify JVP's wrong patriotic policies that brought bankruptcy even after winning the military part of separatists terrorism. Their Dutugamunu continued with that policies, not devolving power or abolishing presidency which is the main reason for corruption and underworld uprising.

2 2

Yohan Tuesday, 26 August 2025 11:34 PM

Utter failure. No work or plan to improve economy but just going after revenge after unexpected loss at the local government election. Npp will get back to 3 percent at next major election.

3 6

Rohan Wednesday, 27 August 2025 10:23 AM

Keep your fingers crossed mate but Sri Lanka will never go back to the way it was. Corruption and Squandering will not be allowed to continue. If you have benefited from it in the past, don't expect it in the future.

1 1

Vadivelu Yogaratnam Tuesday, 26 August 2025 11:49 PM

Keep doing what is right cleaning the country free from corruption completely people voted you for this, ignore the protest financed by Rajapaksa family giving bottle of arrack and briyani. All passed politicians who have wasted public funds should be investigated prosecuted no exception small or big.

0 1

Cheap gimmicks Tuesday, 26 August 2025 11:53 PM

When Chandiya appears on the screen the gallery goes into a hysteria

1 2

Gerard Wednesday, 27 August 2025 01:03 AM

Oh this should do it! This is what was missing from Sri Lanka's development plans. Everything should be ok from now on!

2 3

Dr. R.J. Sivakumar Wednesday, 27 August 2025 02:03 AM

Excellent decision Hon. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, this is what the public expected. Implement it on September 2025 and chase all the Ex-Presidents from their Mansions.

2 4

Raven Wednesday, 27 August 2025 02:47 AM

Hahaha the Pachawatta washing machines are working overtime. We can see identical replies all over. There are so many big-time corruption allegations against the govt and no action for any of them, but taking former presidents' houses is more important for them.

1 7

Vadivelu Yogaratnam Wednesday, 27 August 2025 03:22 AM

Hi Perera Laws are passed in parliament elected by people courts don't pass Laws once passed in parliament it is implemented don't you know this basic so stop making stupid comments.

1 2

kevin Wednesday, 27 August 2025 03:29 AM

Appealing to the gallery AKD. Focus on growing the economy of which it's still running on Ranils work.

0 3

Lanka putha Wednesday, 27 August 2025 03:46 AM

So now more politicans will be protesting not fair revenge human rights ect.

0 0

Lol Wednesday, 27 August 2025 05:22 AM

So as the president where do YOU live?? In a "pal patha"?? Practice what you preach. You came into power catering to the gallery and with this type of cheap sayings and doings the gallery must be still clapping. Country has gone to the dogs and beyond!! You and your red comrades should be put behind bars too for the destruction caused to the entire country! Don't talk as if you are a saint.

2 5

RanjithT Wednesday, 27 August 2025 06:11 AM

Start from home. Stop useless ptojects.

2 1

Rojer Wednesday, 27 August 2025 06:17 AM

Good initiative But, first of all, publish the list of houses to be reclaimed and the current occupants. People should know the actual details

2 1

RanjithT Wednesday, 27 August 2025 06:19 AM

Total cost of maintenance of ex presidents is ssid to be Rs. 113 million. RW has not taken any perks. Funds allocated to incumbent comrade president is over Rs. 2.5 billion as per budget.

2 3

Gayani Kanchana Wednesday, 27 August 2025 06:34 AM

Good. What about the Speaker misusing his house? A 'scheduled' quarters has to be occupied by the designated official. Why does the speaker enjoy a pied-a-terre with his private secretary elsewhere? Thus depriving that government house from some deserving public servant! This is abuse of government property. Please take action to get the Speaker and his partner into the Speaker's house. At least that would save the fuel cost of transporting nutritious food for the secretary from Parliament canteen to the present quarters!

2 2

Christo255 Wednesday, 27 August 2025 06:47 AM

Another Pacha story like within 24 hours will take taxes off food items and medicine, salary increases for government servants every six months, fuel minus Kanchanas commission, 30% reduction in utility bills, reveaing the Easter bomb suspects before Easter of 2025, the list goes on and on

4 4

Sobers Wednesday, 27 August 2025 06:51 AM

Superb move. Also, bring in laws to curtail unnecessary strikes, protests, corruption and lethargic working attitude of government workers, laws to curtail religious leaders involving in politics, racism, overstaffing of public institutions etc. We are wholeheartedly supporting your sincere initiatives. Specially for Director General of Commission Bribery and Corruption unit

0 5

R Navaratnam Wednesday, 27 August 2025 07:06 AM

Mr. President; contents and the words chosen in your last paragraph was brilliant for me.

0 3

T Sal Wednesday, 27 August 2025 07:37 AM

Need to see proper action than verbal actions!

1 2

mfbkandy Wednesday, 27 August 2025 08:42 AM

Let anybody or any party or let them all get-together and protest. AKD had to proceed.

0 5

Prof. M.J. Vellasamy - NPP strong hold from Wellawatte Wednesday, 27 August 2025 10:11 AM

Yes AKD is not scared for any evil powers, because he has the Peoples Power and no need to panic. He has to continue his plans and targets.

1 3

muditha Wednesday, 27 August 2025 08:56 AM

Please use the entire month for this and finish it! Then this headline is no more. After that we can get down to the real issues the people are facing.

2 4

Ravi K Wednesday, 27 August 2025 10:02 AM

Very courageous President and what a great news. You will take the country to the next level for sure.

1 1

Russel Harmmer Wednesday, 27 August 2025 10:07 AM

First start with Mina Mahinda. If you can do it, automatically Rajapakshes' remaining 2% strength will be blastered. Now Namal Baby is trying to fly before crawling.

1 1

Public Voice Wednesday, 27 August 2025 10:13 AM

Yes, good to start the game with MR, then Sirisena then Chandrika. Why should these sinners enjoy with our hard earned money.

1 0

Lalith Kanangara Wednesday, 27 August 2025 10:20 AM

Ranil is retired hurt and come to bat after few days, but he has to battle a lot with the AKD's team. I am sure he will be out without scoring. By that time his good old friend Mahinda should vacate the mansion.

1 0

Tonic Wednesday, 27 August 2025 11:02 AM

You mean he is still in the squad to score....!

0 0

Mahesh Wednesday, 27 August 2025 12:26 PM

Under previous governments, the general public were all scared and politicians were all happy and did whatever they wanted to do and now under NPP government, the general public are very happy and all the politicians who had corrupted past history are now very scared. This is the change we all wanted

0 1

222

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.