LNP – 26 MPs in last parliament cause Rs. 220 Mn loss to Govt in housing purchases

Twenty six MPs of the last government whose houses came under arson attacks during the Aragalayaa in 2022 have purchased houses from the Viyathpura housing scheme at nominal prices causing heavy losses amounting to Rs. 220 million to the government , Deputy Minister of Housing T. B. Sarath said in Parliament yesterday.

Speaking during the committee stage debate on the budget, the Deputy Minister said former MPs have purchased these houses despite receiving special compensation from the government and additional compensation from insurance companies for their houses damaged in arson attacks.

He said that the government would explore the possibility of recovering the loss by charging the actual prices from the recipients of these houses.

He said this transaction had been validated through a motion approved by then Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

“Government has had to bear these losses as the scheme is one which is owned by the government,” the Deputy Minister said.

The Deputy Minister alleged that the current Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa has spent Rs 96 million out of a total allocated sum of Rs 125 million allocated for a housing scheme at Ranpokunugama after completing only 50 percent of the work. This he said has happened during the tenure of Mr. Premadasa as the Housing and Construction Minister of the Yahapalana government.

Opposition MP Kavinda Jayawardene who responded said the government should prove the allegations through proper investigations instead of mere utterances. “Coming up with lists day after day and making allegations against opposition politicians is not accepted. What is important is to prove these allegations which you come out with,” the MP said.