Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) General Secretary, Sagara Kariyawasam, has questioned President Anura Kumara Dissanayake regarding the rent for the President’s Palace and the Prime Minister’s residence, Temple Trees, in Colombo.
Addressing the media, Sagara Kariyawasam said the President’s House has not been given on rent, which means it is being utilised by the incumbent President.
Kariyawasam called on the President to reveal the rental charges of the President’s House or the government cost related to the property.
He further requested that details regarding the Prime Minister’s Office also be revealed, questioning if that property was being leased.
The SLPP General Secretary made the remarks in response to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s recent statement regarding the rental of the house allocated to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Kariyawasam expressed dissatisfaction with the President’s remarks, saying that efforts to ensure the safety of former leaders should not be politicized.
He also asserted that questioning Rajapaksa’s security arrangements was inappropriate, adding that the SLPP leader was pivotal in Sri Lanka’s fight against terrorism.
The SLPP General Secretary’s remarks have sparked a broader debate about state expenditure on official residences and security measures for former Presidents. (Newswire)
"How much is the rent for the President's Palace, allocated for you ? What's the rent for the PM's Temple Trees?" SLPP General Secretary responds to the President's statement, urging him not to make Mahinda Rajapaksa a victim of terrorism by putting him in danger. pic.twitter.com/o7oP8GMiNR
— NewsWire 🇱🇰 (@NewsWireLK) January 20, 2025