The Hon. Chamara Sampath Dasanayake

¶ 01 Hon. Speaker, my first supplementary is this. The Hon. Minister, answering part (iv), said eight Ministerial official residences have been given to the Hon. Speaker and Deputy Ministers with rent deducted from salaries. If rent is being charged, then these could be rented to anyone. The previous decision of the Government was that Ministers would not take official residences, and it was told to the country that no such residences used by Cabinet Ministers of the previous Government would be given to anyone. Now you say seven Deputy Ministers and the Speaker have them with rent deducted. If so, then rent them out; if anyone in the Opposition asks, rent to them too, with salary deductions. I do not need one; I have Madiwela and used that even when I was a State Minister. I never took an official residence. But you did not say they would be given with rent deducted. That is not what you earlier said.

¶ 02 Further, create a proper procedure. If Ministers of the Government do not take these, repair them and put them to some use to generate revenue, such as for tourism, as you earlier stated. Keeping them closed is wasteful; even a month of closing a house causes deterioration. Some closed official residences are now in a dilapidated condition. Either put them to use or you yourselves live there; we have no issue with that. If you are renting to 6 or 7, then rent to others too; many handed back houses, including Hon. Dayasiri. If rented, anyone would take; no issue.