The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa
The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa clarified the Government’s policy decision to relinquish Ministerial Official Residences, noting that maintenance remains a State responsibility until the properties are repurposed, with some already converted into High Courts and other economic uses planned. He said the Speaker’s Residence is not being used as personal accommodation, and its staff are retained only for maintenance while the Parliamentary Staff Advisory Committee considers alternative uses.
Verbatim record (translated)
Machine-translated from Sinhala / Tamil / English¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, the question is clear, but he tried to present the question and answer in a distorted manner; that is why I rose. As a Government, we took a policy decision to relinquish Ministerial Official Residences. Accordingly, we gave them up. However, until they are repurposed, their maintenance is a Government responsibility. Some Ministerial Residences have been converted into High Courts. Further economic uses are planned. The President’s Houses are similarly maintained when not used for official functions.
¶ 02 The Speaker has not used the Speaker’s Residence for personal accommodation. The seven staff are only for maintenance to prevent dilapidation. The Parliamentary Staff Advisory Committee has discussed using it for a useful purpose. It is not that the Speaker lives in two residences. Do not misinterpret.
Provenance
- Source
- Hansard, Tuesday, 5 May 2026 ·No. 23546 ·English daily/uncorrected Hansard
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/lk/speeches/19737
Cite as: The Hon. (Dr.) Nalinda Jayatissa. 10th Parliament, Parliament of Sri Lanka. Hansard, 5 May 2026. No. 23546. Politick, https://staging.politick.io/lk/speeches/19737