Wijerama Residence Will Be Handed Over After Government Evaluation; Says Manoj Gamage

03-Oct-2025

.

Mahinda Rajapaksa’s media spokesperson, Manoj Gamakhe, said that the official Vijerama residence has not yet been handed over because it contains properties and equipment belonging to the state. 

Without valuation and identification of these assets, the house cannot be handed over. If it is done without proper evaluation, allegations would arise that “Mahinda Rajapaksa carried government property away in a lorry.”

He emphasized that the delay was solely due to the failure of government officials to conduct the necessary valuation. He also responded to the accusations made by Cabinet Spokesman Nalinda Jayatissa regarding the Vijerama official residence.

According to Gamakhe, the Presidential Secretariat officially sent a letter requesting the handover only on 24-09-2025, without specifying a deadline. 

The residence contains properties belonging to both the Presidential Secretariat and the Prime Minister’s Office. Instructions had already been given to officials to carry out the valuation, but they delayed the process.

Government Information Department officials have since filmed the house (on 02-10-2025), which he said was part of an attempt to find something to smear the former president Mahinda Rajapaksa in the media.