This hotel was leased for a mere Rs. 138,000 per month for 20 years.
This lease expired on July 04th. However, A Cabinet paper was submitted several months back, seeking the extension of the said hotel to the same tenants for the same monthly lease payment. However, the President had objected stating that a Colombo located building could be leased for a much higher amount.
According to Cey-nor sources, this building could be leased for around Rs. 5 million per month.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Mirror reliably learns that a powerful minister is canvassing for the lease of this building to the same party at the same rate without a proper tender procedure being followed.