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A house fit for an ex-president; focus on hocus-pocus
Real estate dealer and former diplomat A.S.P. Liyanage who offered one of his houses to former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, until he was provided accommodation by the State, was yesterday awaiting police assistance to clear up a swimming pool filled with sand, following speculation that it contained gold and cash, on the superstitious beliefs of the former President.
The pool that was filled with sea sand
Mr Liyanage was summoned to the Welikada police station following a complaint to the Inspector General of Police that he was undergoing ‘mental distress’ consequent to the speculative reports.
Mr Liyanage told the Sunday Times that, when he called over at the Welikada police station regarding the complaint, he was asked whether he needs police protection, whether he is facing any threats, and whether he was willing to pay for the removal of the sand.
Filling the pool with sand was one of the major changes made by the former president due to the recommendations of his astrologers, after he was offered the house to reside in for a two-year period.
“I urged the police to take any necessary action required to clear these speculations, including the removal of the sea sand, for which I told them I will pay.
My family is going through some difficult times due to these kinds of reports,” Mr Liyanage told the Sunday Times yesterday.
Mr Liyanage, who is also the leader of the Sri Lanka Labour Party which campaigned for the former President’s re-election in 2010, had been an ardent supporter of the former government. He was rewarded for his loyalty when he was appointed Sri Lanka’s first High Commissioner to Nigeria.
On his return from Nigeria, he wanted to focus on his real estate business for which he needed funds. “So I wanted to sell this mansion on one acre of land, for Rs 450 million. That’s when all the problems started.”
After he decided to offer his mansion to the former first family, several changes were effected to it, following the recommendations of astrologers who came from Kerala. Poojas to get rid of evil spirits and ghosts were conducted by local astrologers at midnight.
What was to be Mahinda Rajapaksa’s bedroom
The changes began with the swimming pool located to the west of the mansion. A Malayali astrologer reasoned that if a water body is located in that direction, the “powers” of the person going to live in the house will be sucked up by the pool.
An immediate solution recommended by the architects was to fill the pool with sea sand.Then, based on a recommendation by a “Vastu shastra consultant”, they relocated the front door to the east side to face the rising sun.
Meanwhile, a group of Indian astrologers designed a “pyramid zone” to focus all the virtues, and powers of the house in one corner- “Viswa Shakthi”.
With all the powers centralised, they advised the former president to visit this place before he takes any important decisions in his life. The master bedroom too, had a pyramid for restful sleep.
Though the former president and Mr Liyanage shared a deep belief in astrology, it later proved to be their undoing.
“After the changes were made, one of the astrologers told me that, as the person coming to live in this house was more powerful than I, I won’t get this house back. This upset me severely” he said.
“On informing my family of this, my wife threatened to divorce me if I sold the property. I have been subjected to much political pressures from all sides regarding this, and right now I am helpless.”
Mr Liyanage said he was waiting for the IGP to take action, as he wanted to clear his name. (More pictures appear in our web edition –Times on line)
The pyramid zone
The front door that was changed according to the Indian astrologer