In another stark example of the waste of billions in taxpayers’ money, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake revealed during his budget speech that more than 2,700 government buildings constructed in previous years are either abandoned or not being used effectively.
The President said these neglected buildings include educational facilities, hospitals, textile industry buildings, vocational training centers, community halls, service centers, multi-purpose buildings, warehouses and cultural centers.
“We are studying the possibility of upgrading these underutilized buildings or structures and using them for revenue-generating projects such as hotels, business centers, factories or other purposes through public-private partnerships. Accordingly, necessary plans are being prepared for the effective use of these resources,” he said.
The government is now preparing to put these assets to productive use, after years of neglect and mismanagement.
The President noted that many of these buildings had been constructed without conducting proper feasibility studies.
Responding to queries on the matter, Public Administration Minister Chandana Abeyratne said the buildings are scattered across the country. He added that repairs pose a major challenge, as some structures have deteriorated severely due to weather damage.
When asked about government bungalows previously occupied by cabinet ministers, the minister said that his ministry has begun releasing them for productive purposes.
“We recently decided to allocate some of them for use as courtrooms,” he said.
He further noted that the University Grants Commission and the 1990 Suwaseriya Ambulance Service have requested two government bungalows for their operations.
Regarding houses formerly occupied by past presidents, the minister added, “We are also allocating those houses for productive purposes.”
