by Walter Nanayakkara and Kesara Abeywardena

Mangala Samaraweera Minister of Urban Development Construction and Public Utilities yesterday told Parliament he would resign from his post if the opposition, which has launched a virulent campaign against the construction of the proposed. President’s official residential complex in Kotte proved that the complex costs the government Rs. 46,487 per square foot.

He said that the President’s official residential complex comprising of a Presidential Secretariat, President’s official residence and President’s security division’s office and quarters will cost only Rs. 1727 million and that the expenditure per square foot was only Rs. 5349.

He said there were no stables for horses but there are the kennels for the dogs belonging to the Security Department.

The minister said the residential complex would have a 40 ft. by 20 ft. exercise pool, which is a small one compared to the swimming pool of the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium which was 160 ft. X 40 ft.

Minister said that the area of the Presidential residence which includes the Head of State’s official living quarters and private living quarters, is 12,879 sq. ft.

There is also a large banquet hall which will accommodate 50o guests.

The total area of the whole complex is 332,460 sq. ft. and the cost per sq. ft. was Rs. 5349, he added.

Minister Mangala Samaraweera said that UNP’s opposition to the construction of the complex springs from a historic vendetta between the Bandaranaike family and the Wijewardena family.

Leader of the Opposition Ranil Wickremasinghe, belonged to the Wijewardena family. In the past the Lake House which was controlled by the Wijewardena family was a critic of the Late S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike and thereafter Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

The inimical role adopted by the Lake House group of newspapers against Mrs. Bandaranaike when she took up the reins of the party led her to nationalise the group.

Today the other newspaper groups controlled by members of the Wijewardena family are pursuing an inimical attitude towards all living Bandaranaikes as they did in the past, the minister added.