Plan to relocate President’s House, Temple Trees to Sri J’pura Kotte put on hold

18 December 2024 08:36 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 10 Bookmark

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*Land meant for President’s House near P’ment to be developed as Bird Park

Colombo, December 18 (Daily Mirror) - The new government led by the National People's Power (NPP) has put on hold plans by the previous rule to relocate the President’s House, Temple Trees, the Prime Minister’s office and the Presidential Secretariat to Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, a top source said.

The previous government planned for the relocation of these offices so that their current buildings could be developed for tourism as Colombo Heritage Square. The last government planned for the allocation of funds in the 2025 budget for the execution of the project.

However, a top official of the Urban Development Ministry said this project had been kept on hold by the current government and the final decision had not yet been taken on the alternative plan for the use of them.

The last government planned for the construction of the new President’s House in Madiwela close to the parliamentary complex. It was a project first initiated during the time of former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. However, the governments that succeeded her did not focus attention on it until the last rule led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe revisited it and decided to proceed with it in a scaled-down manner.

A source familiar with the move by the current government said that the landmass identified for the project will be used for a bird park instead.

The new government has already abandoned some similar projects launched by the last government. The project for the use of the iconic post office building in Nuwara-Eliya for tourism is one of them.

The government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake decided to retain it for the exclusive use of the Postal Department.

However, the new government has decided to use state bungalows for economic use without reserving them as official residences of ministers.

Comments - 10

Govi Sahal boruwa Wednesday, 18 December 2024 09:03 AM

No point opening the roads..of the heritage site without moving these beuldings..somewhere else.. Fort is a heritage site which will attract lot of tourist.. Tourist get paranoid when seeing the army personnel and the vehicles parked all the road... AKD needs help...

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Madee Yah Liung Wednesday, 18 December 2024 10:19 AM

yes the two official residencies should have moved to Kotte long time back. This is a poor decision by AKD. Pennywise Pound foolish as taught by the suddhas.

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EXCELLENT DECISION BY RE GOVT. Wednesday, 18 December 2024 09:05 AM

EXCELLENT DECISIONS BY THE GOVT.

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Smh Wednesday, 18 December 2024 09:08 AM

Unnecessary expenditures to benefit one person. Hope AKD denies this move and it never comes up again. So many other priorities to work on.

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Upgrade and Replacement Projects Use By The Millions Daily Wednesday, 18 December 2024 09:09 AM

For the next few years, prioritise the replacement and upgrading works of the Health and Transportation Services. These services are used by millions daily unlike those wasteful projects previous regimes did especially In Hambantota.

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Russel Harmmer Wednesday, 18 December 2024 11:17 AM

It is absolutely a waste to shift the Presidents House and Temple Trees to Sri Jayawardenepura, Kotte. Former President RW danced according to MR and planned to relocate vital buildings and to make money for their pockets. [Example: N'Eliya and Kandy Post offices]. Hon. President AKD no need to shift, more important issues are there than this.

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Prof. M.J. Thangavel Wednesday, 18 December 2024 11:22 AM

NPP Govt under President AKD will not take un-wanted decisions at this crucial hour, it is only RW's foolish idea which is not fruitful but to waste public money.

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K.M.N. Anton Fernando [Attorney-at-Law] Wednesday, 18 December 2024 11:26 AM

Mahinda and Ranil ruined our country left to right by promoting projects for their personal gain. Trust His Excellency President AKD will cancel those selfish ideas.

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Jayampathi Wednesday, 18 December 2024 11:51 AM

Great Move. The previous government must have wanted to get construction companies to pay for the election campaign and would have thought of giving new contracts to build these mansions in Kotte. This move by previous government would have increased our debts much more. Selfish Capitalist Elite who overburden the public for their selfish goals to remain in power. We have so many things to do for the poor and also develop the tourist sector in other ways before embarking on this mad exercise. Poor have no food, medicines.

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Yohan Wednesday, 18 December 2024 12:38 PM

Use these buildings for tourism purpose. Use an existing building from a loss making government institution for official purposes of president and pm. Also the circuit banglows of all ministries should be used for tourism purpose, no need to give special rates for government sector workers either.

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