3,089 Outsiders Stayed in Presidential Residences Last Year, Audit Reveals

Nearly 3,100 people stayed in presidential residences across Sri Lanka last year, according to a new report from the National Audit Office. The audit found that 3,089 individuals utilized these state-owned properties, even though the president himself did not reside in most of them.

These seven presidential residences, located in Colombo Fort, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Kataragama, Mahiyanganaya, Nuwara Eliya, and Bentota, collectively cost nearly 33 million Sri Lankan rupees for electricity, telephone, and other facilities in the past year. The report also noted that only three meetings were held in these residences during that period.

Interestingly, the residences in Kataragama, Mahiyanganaya, and Bentota incurred expenses of approximately 2.5 million rupees for utilities, despite hosting no meetings or overnight stays. The president has adopted a policy to use the Colombo Fort residence solely for diplomatic engagements and the Kandy residence for cultural events like the Kandy Esala Perahera, with other residences not to be used for any purpose.

Despite these policy decisions, the maintenance and repair of these unused residences continue to draw from public funds. Over the past nine years, the government has spent over 350 million Sri Lankan rupees on their upkeep and renovation. Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya stated that, following the committee's report recommendations, steps will be taken to repurpose most of these presidential residences for economically productive projects, excluding the ones in Colombo Fort and Kandy.

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The committee's report recommendations will be followed, and steps will be taken to utilize the other presidential residences for economically productive projects, except for the residences in Colombo Fort and Kandy.