Sri Lanka, Sept. 11 -- Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa has vacated his official residence on Wijerama Road in Colombo today (11), following the enactment of the Presidents' Entitlements (Repeal) Act.

Under the new law, former presidents are required to return state-provided official residences to the government. Until now, Rajapaksa had been residing in the official residence as part of his entitlements, but the Act passed yesterday (10) removed this provision.

This morning, a group of politicians and diplomats visited the residence as part of formalities related to the transition.

The move marks the first instance of a former president returning the official residence following the sweeping repeal of benefits granted to ex-presiden...