Soon after the passing of the President\u2019s Entitlement (Repeal) Act, which abolished special privileges provided to former presidents, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa left his official residence in Colombo for his Tangalle residence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, within several days, social media streams were abuzz with claims that Mahinda Rajapaksa had returned to a house in Colombo. However, we found that these news reports are misleading as there is no immediate plan for the former president to return to Colombo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Social Media Posts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Several news reports suggested that former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has returned to Colombo, as seen below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Facebook<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong>FB<\/strong><\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n We observed that a significant number of people who believed this to be true had shared these posts and expressed their opinions. Let\u2019s look at the facts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fact Check:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Upon reviewing the mainstream media outlets, we discovered a news article in the Lankadeepa newspaper, published with the headline, \u201cMahinda returns to Colombo\u201d. Using a similar news article, social media users had portrayed the news about the former president returning to a residence in Colombo as having already happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, inside the news article, it is stated that the former Parliamentarian and SLPP spokesperson Sanjeewa Edirimanna had said that the Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa would return to Colombo as soon as the necessary facilities were secured. However, there is no mention of Mr Edirimanna, stating a recent return of Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Colombo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We investigated whether former Minister of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramune had actually made such a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Accordingly, we monitored news coverage related to <\/strong>former President Mahinda Rajapaksa <\/strong>leaving his official residence in Wijerama on the <\/strong>11th. At the time, a journalist posed a question, stating that despite previous mentions of numerous houses in Colombo, had no one offered the former president a house in Colombo? <\/p>\n\n\n\n To that, Eranda Edirimanna replied, <\/strong>\u201c The bill was passed yesterday evening, and we can\u2019t get all this ready within today. First, our duty is to respect the law and leave here. Then we will see what we do.<\/em>\u201d However, he never mentions regarding his return to Colomo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/srilanka.factcrescendo.com\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/image-58.png\")
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