While CoL skyrockets Trade Ministry rents plush office to meet VIPs

While the cost of living ng is rising beyond the skies, the Valuation Department has author- ised the payment of a massive monthly rent of more than Rs 7.2 million for a building to be used d by the Trade Ministry, a document tabled in Parliament revealed.

The Department had written to the Trade Ministry Secretary stat- ing that it authorises the he payment of Rs 7,255,500 as monthly rent, the amount quoted by the owner of the building at R. A. de Mel Mawatha in Kollupitiya.

In the letter sent in March this year, the Government Valuer said that the proprietor will undertake all repairs and pay taxes due, and recommended that the lease agreement be made for two years with the same conditions.

The document was tabled by Trade Minister Bandula

Balwegaya (SJB) parliamentarian Induni Amarasena about the high rent for the ministry building. The Minister defended the move to rent the building saying the Ministry was need of a spacious office as many institutions were affiliated to the Trade Ministry. He added that given th the importance of trad trade relations, and that the ministry worked clo closely with foreign co countries with regular vis visits by various delegat gations, ambassadors and other VIPs to the Min Ministry requires such a spac spacious building with adeq adequate facilities. The Mi Minister accused the pre previous Government of r renting buildings for high higher amounts and acc accused the SJB

Parl Parliamentarian of trying t to mislead the people on the rent issue. It seemed another case of ' you did it, so why not us'.