A Cabinet decision has been made to evaluate and repurpose several underutilized Presidential Palaces and government bungalows across Sri Lanka. This comes as part of a proposal by the President and the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government to maximize the economic and practical use of state-owned properties.
Currently, there are 50 government bungalows in Colombo 07 and Colombo 05 under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Public Administration. These properties are allocated to former Presidents, Ministers, Deputy Prime Ministers, and various government institutions.
Additionally, Presidential Palaces exist in Colombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Mahiyanganaya, Anuradhapura, Kataragama, Jaffna, Embilipitiya, and Bentota. Of these, only the Presidential Palaces in Colombo and Kandy are in regular use, while the others remain largely underutilized.
Visumpaya, a historic residence in Colombo 02 that has served as the official residence for several heads of state, is now under the administration of the Urban Development Authority. Furthermore, the Prime Minister’s official residence in Nuwara Eliya, under the Prime Minister’s Office, is also cited as underutilized despite substantial maintenance expenses.
Recognizing the financial burden and inefficiency, the Cabinet has approved the formation of a committee to explore and recommend practical solutions for repurposing these properties. This initiative aims to enhance the economic value and utility of these state assets while addressing concerns about unnecessary expenditure.
The committee’s findings and recommendations are expected to guide the future use of these iconic properties, potentially transforming them into functional assets for the nation.
