Sri Lanka’s socialist administration have demanded that past presidents, including the once-powerful Rajapaksa brothers, vacate opulent government residences as part of a new austerity campaign.
The government has chosen to turn the majestic homes into exclusive boutique hotels or museums, Information Minister Nalinda Jayatissa told reporters in Colombo.
The information minister stated that rather than giving government housing, the state would pay past leaders $107 in rent every month, as required by a 1986 statute.
Jayatissa noted that former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was occupying a government house with a monthly rental value of $16,500, which is more than 150 times his official entitlement.
“The government will not provide housing for ex-presidents or their widows in future,” Jayatissa said.
“They will only receive a rent allowance equivalent to one-third of their pension, which is Rs30,000.”
Jayatissa said the former leader could take Tuesday’s public…
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