The Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday denied that the removal of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) Colombo station chief was connected to the defeat of Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa in the recent elections in the island nation, adding that it was a routine transfer.
"Postings and transfers are in the public domain. When Indian diplomats go to Sri Lanka, dates are announced. The normal tenure of an Indian diplomat in Sri Lanka is three years and all officials who have been transferred during the last year have completed that. It's a normal transfer," MEA official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told the media.
As per reports, Sri Lanka expelled the Colombo station chief in the run-up to the presidential elections, with intelligence sources allegedly accusing him of helping the opposition oust President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The island nation went to polls, with 19 candidates contesting the elections. Maithiripala Sirisena was voted the new President, beating Rajapaksa after securing 51.28 percent of the votes cast.