Sri Lanka's leftist government has initiated an austerity drive that demands former presidents vacate their luxurious government bungalows. These stately homes, situated in Colombo's upscale diplomatic quarters, will transform into boutique hotels or museums as part of this new initiative. Among those affected are the Rajapaksa brothers, known for their decade-long rule over Sri Lanka until 2015 and again from November 2019 to July 2022.
The government aims to reduce expenses significantly by cutting down on the number of bodyguards assigned to former leaders. Since late December, the maximum number of bodyguards per former leader has been capped at 60. This move has resulted in annual savings of over 1,200 million rupees for taxpayers. Additionally, the government will no longer provide housing for ex-presidents or their widows. Instead, they will receive a monthly rent allowance of US$107, as per a 1986 law.
"The government will not provide housing for ex-presidents or their widows in future,"
- Nalinda Jayatissa
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa currently occupies a government residence with a rental value of US$16,500 per month. The security costs for the Rajapaksa brothers alone amounted to over 1,017 million rupees last year. However, with the government's recent measures to reduce security personnel, substantial savings have been achieved.
"They will only receive a rent allowance equivalent to one-third of their pension, which is 30,000 rupees (US$100)."
- Nalinda Jayatissa
This austerity measure comes under the leadership of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who assumed office in September with a commitment to combat corruption. The move aligns with efforts to address the nation's economic challenges, which saw Gotabaya Rajapaksa stepping down in 2022 during one of Sri Lanka's worst economic crises.
The luxurious homes earmarked for conversion were originally constructed during British colonial rule for top civil servants from London. The initiative reflects a broader strategy to optimize resources and redirect funds toward more pressing national needs.
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