• 26 housing units were purchased by then MPs during the last Government 

The Ministry of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing stated that the housing units of the Viyathpura scheme, which were reported to have been granted to Parliamentarians of the former Government at nominal prices, are now being returned by the respective MPs.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, Deputy Minister of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing, T.B. Sarath said that some of these units have already been handed back by the relevant MPs. “I have been informed by the Urban Development Authority that MPs are returning the housing units.”

When queried as to whether the Government would refund any payment made by the MPs when the housing units were granted to them, he said that there is no decision on it yet. “If any refund is required, it will have to be done after auctioning these housing units.”

Sarath revealed in the Parliament early this year, that 26 former MPs, whose houses were set on fire during the 2022 unrest, purchased 26 units from the Viyathpura housing scheme at nominal prices, resulting in a loss of Rs. 220 million to the Government.

Speaking to The Daily Morning at that time, he said that the housing units had been provided to MPs based on a decision made by the former Cabinet of Ministers. He added that approval had been granted for the allocation of 76 units for MPs, but that only 26 MPs had made the required payments, and that 50 had not.