A team of officials from the Presidential Secretariat and Public Administration conducted an inspection of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Wijerama residence today, amid controversy over the handover of the state-owned property.

Attorney Manoj Gamage, spokesperson for the former president, refuted recent remarks by Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Nalinda Jayatissa, who claimed Rajapaksa had not yet handed over the residence.

Speaking to the media, Gamage said the delay was caused by officials from state departments, who were responsible for taking inventory of state-owned assets at the property.

“We had requested the relevant departments to conduct an inventory. Only after that would we remove the personal belongings of the former president,” he explained. “However, a government media crew arrived to record video footage, turning this into a public spectacle.”

Gamage insisted the house had not been handed over solely due to administrative delays, not any refusal on their part.

He accused the government of engaging in media theatrics and said formal written communication would be sent to the relevant authorities requesting that proper inventory procedures be followed.

“We don’t want people saying that Mahinda Rajapaksa even took a broom from the Wijerama residence,” Gamage said, calling the situation a deliberate attempt to damage the former president’s reputation.

“Here is the residence, take it over at any time you want,” Gamage told Minister Jayatissa. However he insisted the handing over will only take place after a proper inventory has been conducted.

Gamage also claimed there appeared to be attempts to obstruct the removal of former President Rajapaksa’s personal belongings. “There is no issue here. The government is free to take whatever belongs to the state—but it cannot take items that are not officially state property,” he said. (Newswire)

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Government spokesman Minister Nalinda Jayatissa states that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has not yet officially handed over his official residence in Wijerama Mawatha, Colombo.

Speaking to the media, Minister Jayatissa said it has been three weeks since he left the premises. 

The minister further said that the ministry in charge of the matter will take the necessary measures in this regard.

Minister Jayatissa added that Mahinda Rajapaksa might find a new house and return to Colombo soon. 

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa returned to Tangalle after vacating the official residence in Colombo following the enactment of the President’s Entitlements (Repeal) Act. 

The Bill, which seeks to abolish special benefits granted to former Presidents, their widows, and retired MPs, was passed without amendments in Parliament in September. (Newswire)

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Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has left his official residence in Wijerama Mawatha in Colombo, following the passage of the President’s Entitlements (Repeal) Bill in Parliament.

The President’s Entitlements (Repeal) Bill, which seeks to abolish special benefits granted to former Presidents, their widows, and retired MPs, was passed without amendments in Parliament yesterday.

Several politicians and foreign diplomats were reported to have visited Mahinda Rajapaksa at Wijerama Mawatha, prior to his departure. 

Earlier today, Mahinda Rajapaksa’s media spokesperson, Attorney Manoj Gamage, said under the current circumstances, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa does not intend to remain in the official residence even for 24 hours.

Speaking to the media, Manoj Gamage said that the former President is expected to leave for Tangalle today. 

He said, however, it will take approximately a week to officially hand over the residence to the government, along with all state-owned belongings. (Newswire)

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