The Government has begun implementing plans to convert the Presidential House and former official ministerial bungalows into properties for public and commercial use, marking a shift in how some of the country’s high-value state-owned buildings will be utilized.
Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday,
Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya said
“it is the Government’s policy not to use the Presidential House or the official residences previously allocated to ministers.
Instead, the properties will be maintained and gradually repurposed to serve the public while generating greater value”.
What is the Cabinet Plan?
The Prime Minister further said a Cabinet-appointed committee had recommended that the Presidential House and several former ministerial residences be converted for commercial activities or other public purposes.
She added that work to implement the recommendations is already underway.
According to the Prime Minister, a special program has been introduced to maintain the buildings during the transition and prevent them from falling into disrepair before their new uses are finalized.
She also said some former ministerial bungalows have already been converted into court facilities, with judicial proceedings now taking place in those buildings to improve the efficiency of the judicial system.
Government Denies Ministers Are Using Official Residences
Responding to claims circulating on social media, the Prime Minister said no member of the current Cabinet is living in an official ministerial residence.
She said some ministers are instead staying at the Madiwela MPs’ housing complex, in line with the Government’s policy of not occupying official residences.
The Prime Minister said the Government is carrying out the commitments it made to the public and urged Members of Parliament not to rely on unverified information shared on social media when raising issues in the House.
Clarification Parliamentary Updates Prime Minister’s Office
Last modified: July 22, 2026
