News
Ministerial residences turning into mosquito breeding grounds
View(s):- Await discussions on future use with no takers
By Kasun Warakapitiya
Three months after the government appointed a committee to study and make recommendations on making use of former ministerial residences for economic uses, most houses and buildings remain vacant, with some in a neglected state.
Visits by the Sunday Times revealed that some houses are guarded by security forces.
Among the residences closed down were those used by former presidents Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Some neglected buildings have become breeding grounds for mosquitos. The houses were also becoming degraded as termites, and mice take refuge in old buildings (bungalows) which are nearly 100 years old.
No occupancy: A former minister's residence on Wijerama Mawatha. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
Among those who explained the state of the official residences was former agriculture minister, Mahinda Amaraweera who had occupied a residence in Mahagamasekara Mawatha, Colombo 7.
He said that after he handed over the official residence it is unoccupied and guarded by the army.
“When left unoccupied and without maintenance the houses start to dilapidate, termite mounds grow, cracks and openings appear, and gardens become overgrown creating ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed,’’ he said.
Manusha Nanayakkara, former minister of labour and foreign employment who stayed at Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo 7 also said that the official residence was unoccupied and guarded by the army.
All closed up now: Paget Road (Mahagamasekera Mawatha) residence used by former presidents Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe
When the Sunday Times visited the residence, the army security denied us access. But it was visible that the garden was overgrown with weeds and the rooftops and gutters littered with leaves.
A by-lane off Wijerama Mawatha had four official residences of former ministers. They are all abandoned.
Another former cabinet minister who refused to disclose his name too, said that his official residence at Mahagamasekara Mawatha was still vacant.
The Sunday Times learned that the bungalow used as the president’s house in Kankesanturai too, had been abandoned for 12 years, after it was built in 2013. A source said that bats roost within the building.
The Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Construction and housing, T.B Sarath explained that the ministers, deputy ministers of the National People’s Power government made a policy decision to not use lavish official residences.
He said that ministers from Colombo would remain in their own houses, while some ministers stay at parliament member’s quarters at Madiwela.
The Presidential official residence, Temple Trees and the speaker’s official residence at Battaramulla though being maintained are not occupied. But these are used for official functions and meetings.
Former Budhdhasasana Ministry building and inset cinder blocks stacked up in front of building
A spokesman for the speaker confirmed that the speaker only uses the official residence in the official capacity to host meetings. It is not occupied by either the Speaker Jagath Wickramaratne or his family. A source said that the speaker has been give a residence by the government in Narahenpita.
Even though these key official residences were underused, they are well maintained but those not occupied have been neglected.
Ministry Public Administration, Provincial councils and Local government Secretary S Alokabandara said that the president had directed that ministerial residences be allocated for activities which would benefit the economy.
According to him a cabinet appointed committee handed over its recommendations to presidential secretariat in March.
The committee comprised officials of the Urban Development Authority, Ministry of Tourism, Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority and the Chamber of Ccommerce.
He added that based on recommendations, future decisions on the use of ministerial residences would be made.
The Sunday Times saw that the Buddha Sasana Ministry’s former building was in a dilapidated state.
There were cinder blocks stacked in front of the building, and wood stacked on the side of the building. An official who claimed anonymity said that the building is being used as the Budda Sasana department and is in need of repairs. The perimeter wall leans to one side.
In between the former Buddhasasana Ministry building and the residence of the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, is “Charikaramaya” which has been built for the Mahanayaka Theras to reside in during their visits to Colombo.
During recent months the interior was renovated, yet the surroundings have uprooted trees and mud holes.The front wall also has been removed to construct a new one.
Vidura Wickramanayake, former Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious, and Cultural Affairs, told the Sunday Times that during his tenure the Charikarmaya and adjoining building belonging to the Buddha Sasana Ministry were renovated but was taking time.
He wanted to expose the construction delays but the matter never surfaced. However after the new government came in, the Charikaramaya renovation and maintenance were abandoned.
“Closure and non-use of the old buildings is not preservation, it paves the way to destruction. Preservation is done when in use, even the buildings should not merely be maintained and kept closed. They should be used for income generating activity,’’ he said.
The former minister suggested if the state lacked the funds they could arrange a public private partnership (PPP) and maintain the buildings. The Government can keep the ownership of the buildings while the private sector could use and maintain the buildings.
| CMC awakens, but garbage-ridden land uncleared Following the Sunday Times expose of the Torrington Avenue’s abandoned Urban Development Authority property, the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) has started to take action, however the abandoned land remains in the same state as it was last week even as of Friday afternoon. The Sunday Times visited the area for the second time on Friday afternoon. The 74 perch property had not been cleared.  Dawson Ernest The residents of Torrington Avenue complained that they only want the Urban Development Authority to clear the overgrown property, remove non degradable waste, mosquito breeding places and to ensure that the people of the area do not get infected with Chikungunya, dengue and other diseases. The residents who declined to be named blamed the authorities for taking time to clear the property even after their inaction was exposed. Low income families in the area said spraying of mosquito larvicide was done by CMC on Wednesday. The UDA officials were also present, they said. Dawson Ernest, 71, a three wheel driver residing in ‘189 Watta’ said that their residential areas as well as the abandoned land was sprayed on Wednesday. But garbage was not removed and the land not cleared. Y. Sanjeewa Francis, the health instructor of the CMC Pest Control Unit said fogging and mosquito larvicide spraying was done. The clearing of the trees and garbage should be done by the UDA, he said. Officials of MOH office of D4 office situated at Kirula Road had informed the UDA to clean and clear the premises. The Sunday Times asked the UDA’s Deputy Director General (Real Estate and Land Management), E. A. C. Piyashantha why the garbage was not removed and the land not cleared even by Friday. He said he had asked the official in charge to clear the land on Friday afternoon. However, when the Sunday Times noted that this had not been done, he said he would look into the matter. Afterwards UDA officials arrived and cleared the garbage stacked in front of the property on Friday and the shrubs were cleared yesterday.
| |
| UDA to clear abandoned land after legal threatThe Colombo Municipal Council has written to the Director General of the Urban Develop Authority that legal action will be taken under the prevention of mosquito breeding act. CMC’s Chief Medical officer Dr M.A.S.G Rathnawardhana said that following the letter the UDA, has confirmed that the land would be cleared. Drones will be used to inspect other abandoned land, she said. “As the monsoon season nears, mosquito numbers would increase. Destroying mosquito breeding areas is essential,” she said |
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!