Sri Lanka's Parliament Evicts Former President Rajapaksa from State-Owned Mansions

In a significant political move, Sri Lanka's parliament voted on September 10 to evict former president Mahinda Rajapaksa along with two other individuals from state-owned mansions. This decision was part of broader austerity measures implemented by the newly elected leftist government led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The ruling party's members unanimously supported the bill, which seeks to repeal a 1986 law that provided former leaders with luxurious accommodations and supportive staff.

The bill received overwhelming support, passing with a two-thirds majority in the assembly, where only one member from the opposition registered a dissenting vote. The legislation came after a Supreme Court ruling affirmed that the removal of privileges for past heads of state was constitutional. This move followed Rajapaksa's refusal to vacate a lavish residence despite numerous requests, with his party also having challenged the repeal in court unsuccessfully.

Historically, the 1986 law entitled former presidents to luxurious benefits, including high-end vehicles, government-funded fuel, bodyguards, and secretarial staff. With the new bill, the entitlement act's repeal means that Hema Premadasa, the widow of the assassinated president Ranasinghe Premadasa, will no longer receive the pension she has been entitled to since her husband's assassination in 1993. Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara emphasized that the repeal aims to conserve taxpayer resources, condemning the previous allocation of extravagant residences by former leaders.

Despite the government’s stance, some opposition members, like Dayasiri Jayasekara, claimed that this legislation was a politically motivated attempt to target rivals and accused the government of acting out of malice and hatred. Reports indicate that Rajapaksa previously had an extensive security detail of 243 bodyguards. However, this number has been curtailed to 60, along with a reduction in the allowed vehicles for his use.

There has been no official response from Rajapaksa regarding the eviction, although an aide indicated that he would likely vacate the property soon. Notably, Rajapaksa allegedly used public funds extensively for refurbishing the state-owned residence during his tenure as prime minister. Meanwhile, former presidents Chandrika Kumaratunga and Maithripala Sirisena continue to live in state housing located in an upscale district of Colombo. The state residences in question were initially constructed during the British colonial period for high-ranking civil servants from Britain.