Sirisena ready to resign if it could be proved that three houses were amalgamated for his official residence

By Saman Indrajith

Former President and Polonnaruwa District MP Maithripala Sirisena said in Parliament yesterday that he was ready to resign as an MP if it could be proved that he had got three houses amalgamated to build his official residence.

Making a special statement with the permission from the Chair, the former President said that Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage had accused him of living in a luxury residence for the construction of which three houses had been amalgamated.

“I regret that he made such a false statement. The house I am living now was given to me as provided for in the President’s Entitlements Act passed in this House by President JR Jayewardene government. As per the Act, a former president is entitled to perks and privileges enjoyed by a Cabinet Minister. That house had previously been used by Minister Keheliya Rambukwella. When President Mahinda Rajapaksa retired I gave the house that I used as the Minister of Health. He uses that house situated at Wijerama Mawatha. Former President Chandrika Kumaratunge lives in a house opposite the DS Senanayake Statue at Torrington Avenue. The widow of President Ranasinghe Premadasa too has been given a house. The houses we are occupying including that of President Mahinda Rajapaksa are not luxury residences despite their looks. Built some 100 years ago, their walls have developed cracks. The house I am using was once given to Prime Minister D.B. Wijetunga, while President Premadasa was living at Temple Trees. It was Prime Minister Wijetunga who amalgamated two houses into one. While I was the President I added a conference hall. So, it was wrong to state that I made a house by combining three houses,” MP Sirisena said.

“I also regret another lie that Minister Aluthgamage said in his speech. He said that I used to chat with ministers while drinking whiskey in that house. Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I am a teetotaler. I neither consume liquor nor smoke, and I am known as a person who fought hard against the two evils and I will continue to do so. It is regrettable that statements of this nature are made here because it is the duty of Members of this House not to tell lies.”