Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya stated in Parliament yesterday (23) that the government is moving forward with a programme to use the President’s House and official residences allocated for former ministers for public and commercial purposes instead of official accommodation.

She said the current government’s policy is not to use the President’s House or official ministerial residences as official living quarters.

The Prime Minister stated that a special programme is currently being implemented to maintain these properties while preventing deterioration and converting them for public and commercial activities.

She further said that a committee appointed by the Cabinet has recommended using properties including the President’s House for commercial activities and other public purposes, and the implementation process has already begun.

The Prime Minister also revealed that several former ministerial residences are currently being used for judicial activities, helping to improve the efficiency of the court system.

Responding to statements circulating on social media, she emphasized that no minister in the current government is residing in official residences. Some ministers are staying at the Parliament Members’ Housing Complex in Madiwela, she added.