State bungalows, previously used by Cabinet Ministers, still lie idle

• Presidential Secretariat explores avenues for productive use of them
• These bungalows were built during the colonial period

By Kelum Bandara 

The government is yet to convert the state bungalows, previously occupied by various ministers in the past, to valuable commercial entities despite promises made ahead of the Presidential Election in 2024, Daily Mirror learns.   

The National People’s Power (NPP), in the run-up to the Presidential Election that was concluded on September 21, 2024, pledged not to assign these bungalows to the ministers of the government led by it. Instead, the NPP said it would assign them for commercial use.   

However, the government has not yet established commercial entities in these bungalows, except for the designation of the house occupied by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa as a courthouse. These bungalows were built during the colonial period. The Ministry of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government took charge of these houses along with the ones vacated by the former Presidents in terms of the newly introduced Presidents Entitlements (Repeal) Act. 

Asked about the latest development in this regard, Minister Chandana Abeyratne said that the Presidential Secretariat would determine what should be done with the properties. He said requests had been made by different entities to make use of them, but the Presidential Secretariat would make the final decision.

Under the past governments, various Cabinet Ministers used them as their official residences.