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Legal action to repossess official bungalows: Govt.
Government will take legal action against 20 former ministers and deputy ministers who have failed to vacate the official bungalows they occupied when they held office.
Public Administration Ministry Secretary, J. Dadallage said the final warning letters will be sent to the occupants of these houses, situated mainly in Colombo 7, that the Government would take legal action if they don’t vacate their previous official residences immediately.
“We have to allocate these hoses to the newly appointed ministers and deputy ministers, as they need accommodation in Colombo, but unless the previous occupants vacate the hoses, we are unable to do so,” he said.
He said that former ministers and deputy ministers have been occupying these houses for the past 10 months, even though they lost their portfolios with the fall of the previous regime in January.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Finance, Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said that 62 official vehicles issued to former ministers and deputy ministers are yet to be handed over.
“Cabinet discussed this issue, and it is likely that President Maithripala Sirisena will present a Cabinet paper at next Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, to recover the vehicles,” he said.
“Relevant ministry secretaries are to be empowered to recover the vehicles,” he further said.
A grace period will be granted for the return of the official vehicles, and failure to meet the deadline will result in the Police being directed to seize the vehicles.
“Meanwhile, the new Government has reduced the Rs 200,000 monthly rent paid to MPs who did not get official quarters, to Rs 50,000,” Mr Dadallage said.
At least 50 new MPs have applied for quarters at the Madiwela MPs housing complex, but there aren’t sufficient houses for all of them at this location,” he said.