Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has expressed his willingness to vacate his official residence in Colombo if formally requested by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. Rajapaksa emphasized that a written request, rather than public statements, would be a more appropriate course of action.
Responding to a recent public speech by President Dissanayake, who called for Rajapaksa to either vacate the residence or pay a monthly rent of Rs. 4.6 million, the former President clarified the circumstances under which he was granted the property. He stated that the residence on Wijerama Mawatha was allocated to him through a cabinet decision during the tenure of former President Maithripala Sirisena for security reasons, in recognition of his constitutional entitlement as a former head of state.
“If leaving this residence benefits the President, I am willing to do so. However, his behavior reflects more of an opposition politician than that of a head of state,” Rajapaksa remarked.
He also criticized President Dissanayake’s approach, describing it as a publicity stunt aimed at deflecting attention from pressing issues. “President Dissanayake seems to forget that I am Mahinda Rajapaksa. While his rhetoric and unfulfilled election promises may resonate with certain audiences, they do little to address the country’s real challenges. If he wishes me to leave, all he needs to do is send a formal written request,” he said.
The former President highlighted his contributions during his decade-long tenure, which he described as one of the nation’s most challenging periods. “I led the country through its most brutal times, ending the war and initiating development projects that are still benefiting the nation today. While my successors criticized and even halted some of these initiatives, causing damage to investor confidence, my focus was always on the country’s progress,” he added.
Rajapaksa also expressed disappointment over what he called the current administration’s focus on personal criticism rather than public welfare. “Instead of providing relief to the people, President Dissanayake resorts to public relations stunts, criticizing former presidents and exploiting their security arrangements to gain favor with the public,” he noted.
Despite his criticisms, the former President reiterated his readiness to comply if the government deems it necessary for him to vacate the residence. “I have endured political vendettas and harassment before. If the President believes my official residence should be taken away, I am prepared to leave. Let him send me an official request, and I will not hold back,” Rajapaksa concluded.
