• 50 vacant ministerial bungalows in Colombo’s prime spots
• No Cabinet paper submitted yet

Sri Lanka’s vacant ministerial and presidential bungalows – prime properties in Colombo with significant historical value – remain in limbo, even as the Government considers leasing them out.

Despite discussions about repurposing these elite residences for embassies, NGOs, or international organisations, no Cabinet paper has yet been presented, according to Deputy Minister of Housing T.B. Sarath.

He told The Sunday Morning that while the Government was considering leasing out vacant ministerial and presidential bungalows, no Cabinet paper had been presented on the matter yet.

“We have planned for these bungalows depending on their use, but we want to ensure they are given out to the right parties,” Sarath said. 

“There is no point in simply having these properties lying idle, because these are good properties and leaving them unused would only result in them deteriorating.”

He added that the Government was maintaining the residences in the meantime but acknowledged that leasing them out remained under discussion.

“There are 50 or 51 such bungalows which were previously allocated to ministers and deputy ministers. Since we came to power, these have not been put to proper use. While they are currently being maintained, that alone is not a sustainable solution. For a Cabinet paper to be presented, there must first be credible interest from high-profile parties, and once that happens, we can proceed.”

Meanwhile, President’s Media Division Director General Prasanna Perera said: “The President has expressed interest in making use of these properties by leasing them out. However, no Cabinet paper has been presented to date.”

“When the right type of interest is shown, the requests will be entertained, and the properties will be handed over to the appropriate parties. There is also the possibility of the State sector making use of them if there is a genuine requirement, although no such request has been made so far,” he added.

The bungalows in question are located in prime areas of Colombo, such as Colombo 7, Colombo 5, and Keppetipola Mawatha. They were once occupied by cabinet ministers, deputy ministers, and even former presidents. Some of the properties carry significant heritage value, having been used by governors and senior British officials during the colonial era.

Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Urban Development Authority (UDA) Director General Ruchira Withana said: “There are about 51 ministerial bungalows. Demolition is not possible, as many of them have been identified as colonial properties with historical importance,” he explained.

“Some of these are situated near the United Nations (UN) Compound and close to several embassies, including those of Russia, Italy, and Britain. Their locations are extremely valuable, but at the same time, they demand high maintenance due to their age, with issues such as old pipes and timber floors.”

To address the dual concerns of cost and underutilisation, the UDA has recommended leasing the bungalows to diplomatic missions, international organisations, or non-governmental agencies.

“We proposed that if the UN requires additional space, it could consider using these properties. Alternatively, other NGOs or embassies may also find them suitable,” Withana said.

“The embassies themselves can express interest directly. It does not require the President to intervene in such cases.”

Withana recalled that a former president’s property had once been valued at nearly Rs. 5 million per month, which discouraged interest.

“That was far too high. No tenant would agree to such a figure. We recommended carrying out proper valuations so that fairer rents can be set. If the rental is around Rs. 500,000 per month, then it becomes more realistic and attractive to potential tenants.”

Two main leasing methods are under consideration. One is to allocate the properties directly to interested embassies or organisations, while the other is through a public tender process. 

Withana acknowledged that while public tender would ensure transparency, it was a longer procedure as it required calling for proposals and evaluations.