Sri Lanka’s ex-leaders told to vacate luxury government homes amid austerity drive

Sri Lanka’s leftist government asked former presidents, including the once-powerful Rajapaksa brothers, on Tuesday to immediately vacate luxury government bungalows as part of a new austerity drive.

The government has decided to convert the stately homes into upmarket boutique hotels or museums, Information Minister Nalinda Jayatissa told reporters in Colombo.

He said the state would pay former leaders rent totalling US$107 a month, as they are entitled to under a 1986 law, instead of providing government housing.

Jayatissa noted that former president Mahinda Rajapaksa was occupying a government house with a monthly rent of US$16,500 (4.6 million rupees), 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 30,000 rupees (US$100).”