COPE reveals Rajapaksa family housing deals involving Carlton pre-school, missing files, unpaid property and state losses.
Rajapaksa housing deals involving National Housing Development Authority property have come under serious scrutiny before the COPE committee.
It has been revealed at the Committee on Public Enterprises that a property belonging to the National Housing Development Authority in Maligawatta was leased to the Carlton pre-school run by Mrs. Shiranthi Rajapaksa at a price far below the government valuation.
The committee was told that this had caused a major financial loss to the government.
It was also revealed that no payment had been made for a house worth Rs.45 lakh provided to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The relevant files linked to that property have also reportedly disappeared.
Carlton Pre-School Rent Questioned
A portion of land in the Maligawatta housing scheme had been leased to Carlton pre-school for five years, from May 2023 to April 2028.
According to the government valuation, the monthly rent should have been Rs.177,000.
However, the property had been given for just Rs.30,000 per month based on Board of Directors’ approval.
Officials stated that the concession had been granted because the pre-school was considered a welfare institution.
However, the committee criticized the fact that no audited report had been submitted to support that position.
It was also revealed that the pre-school is allegedly using two additional land parcels beyond the leased portion without authorization.
Government buildings on the property had also reportedly been altered without permission.
The committee stated that the loss already caused to the government due to these irregularities exceeds Rs.540,000.
Mahinda House File Missing
A house worth Rs.4,569,215 located at the 4th Lane on Matha Road was provided to Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2002.
However, there is no documented evidence that any payment was made for it.
When inquiries were made, it was revealed that the main file related to the house, which should have been at the Colombo South office, had disappeared.
It was also revealed that records exist showing the relevant file had been removed by an official.
COPE committee records further state that the house was one investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department in connection with the Thajudeen murder.
The COPE Committee Chairman ordered officials to conduct a special investigation into the full incident.
Officials were instructed to submit a complete report within one week.
The committee emphasized that state property cannot be allowed to be used for building political images or be misappropriated.
