Request of Rs.364 million to shift Ministry of Power turned down

Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has yesterday vehemently protested against the Cabinet paper presented by Minister Ravi Karunanayake requesting for Rs 364 million from the Treasury to shift the Ministry of Power, Energy and Business Development to another location.

On an earlier occasion when this Cabinet paper was presented, the Minister of Finance had raised his objections.

Yesterday at the Cabinet meeting chaired by President Maithripala Sirisena, this proposal was discussed and Minister Mangala Samaraweera had vehemently opposed it.

This Cabinet paper suggests that the Ministry of Power, now located in a rented out premises at Ananda Coomeraswamy Mawatha Colombo, be shifted to a rented out premises in Nawam Mawatha Colombo.

When this paper was taken up for discussion, the Finance Minister expressed his views while refusing to grant funds for this move, stating that a decision had been taken not to spend on new offices. 

Therefore, he cannot agree to the proposal he said. In reply, Minister Karunanayake had said that due to the present building in which the Ministry is housed not having sufficient space, it was proposed to shift it to a new place. (Ajantha Kumara Agalakada)