Sri Lanka, Oct. 30 -- The Government's move to occupy all underutilised State buildings, indeed, is a positive move. Presently, there are a large number of State-owned buildings which are being run at a slow pace or abandoned altogether. Some of these buildings are also on the verge of collapse or in a highly dilapidated State. These should be renovated and put to good use, instead of the State hiring buildings and offices from the private sector for its functions. The buildings abandoned also include one-time Government ministries or the offices of former ministers. Most of them are lying idle, chiefly because the ministers who get newly elected are reluctant to occupy these former ministry buildings but prefer brand new premises.

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