Housing for MPs | Parliament to rent building 

• CBSL building in Rajagiriya to be taken on rent
• Former MPs yet to vacate official residences

By Skandha Gunasekara

The Parliamentary Secretariat is to rent a Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL)-owned building as a residence to accommodate a number of new parliamentarians.

Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake said they were looking at a location close to the Parliamentary Complex. 

“We have identified a building of the Central Bank situated in Rajagiriya and we hope to rent it out to house some new MPs,” he said.

He said there was a shortage of residences at the MPs’ headquarters in Madiwela, as some former MPs were yet to vacate their official residences.

“Around 20-25 former MPs have to vacate their official residences. In addition, a number of the houses at the MPs’ residential complex in Madiwela need to undergo repairs and refurbishment,” he said, noting that the CBSL building would be used as a temporary measure. 

However, it is learnt that a total of around 100 official residences occupied by former parliamentarians have to be vacated to make space for the new MPs.