President Anura Kumara Dissanayake stated that the residence currently occupied by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa should be handed over to the government. He also mentioned that if necessary, he is willing to provide an alternative residence for the former President.
Speaking at a public meeting in Galgamuwa, the President emphasized that Mahinda Rajapaksa would not be allowed to retain the house he is currently residing in.
“Hello… How are you? Are you okay? Happy… Good. Vehicles have not been imported into this country for many years. Permission has been granted to import vehicles for personal use starting today. However, this is a difficult and cautious task. If everyone looking to import vehicles does so in February, the demand for dollars will surge. Therefore, we are releasing vehicles cautiously. The price of vehicles has increased due to the rise in the dollar exchange rate, and in addition, several taxes have been imposed. If demand spikes all at once, a crisis will arise. Initially, prices may rise, but after some time, there is an expectation that they will stabilize. These are the significant economic changes we are implementing.”
The President further elaborated on the government’s cost-cutting measures and its efforts to eliminate unnecessary expenditure.
“People demanded that we put an end to political corruption and waste. We have done exactly that. How much waste have we stopped? My official budget has been cut by 50%. I will grant it back to the government and save that amount this year. We will not waste public funds. We have also requested former presidents to make sacrifices.”
Addressing Mahinda Rajapaksa’s residence, he stated:
“The house you live in is too large—30,500 square feet. It is practically the size of a field. Isn’t that too much for just two people? The government has already spent Rs. 470 million on its renovations. We have pointed out that this is an unnecessary burden. But now, they claim that we are trying to evict them or take revenge. This is not revenge—it is simply about stopping wasteful public expenditure. Therefore, we are asking you to return the house. If you do not have a place to live, I am ready to provide you with a suitable house. But you will not be allowed to keep this one.”
The President also remarked on the financial privileges Mahinda Rajapaksa enjoyed during his tenure, stating that his salary was deposited into his bank account for ten years, yet he never withdrew it.
“Even his personal secretary and son did not withdraw the salary deposited in their accounts. Can you imagine how much wealth they have accumulated? And yet, now they claim they do not have a place to live. If that’s the case, I will provide one. But I will not allow them to keep the one they are in now.”
President Dissanayake’s comments reflect his administration’s commitment to eliminating wasteful government spending and ensuring the responsible use of state resources.
