For the second time this week, the Indian high commission in Sri Lanka had to battle rumours that could have turned the protesters’ anger towards the mission in the middle of the political turmoil in the island nation.
Amid reports that ousted Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had fled to the Maldives, the Indian high commission had to clarify that India had not facilitated this journey.
“High Commission categorically denies baseless and speculative media reports that India facilitated the recent reported travel of @gotabayar @Realbrajapaksa out of Sri Lanka,” the mission tweeted.
“It is reiterated that India will continue to support the people of Sri Lanka as they seek to realise their aspirations for prosperity and progress through democratic means and values, established democratic institutions and constitutional framework.”
Since Tuesday, after the US was reported to have rejected Gotabaya’s visa request, and his younger brother and former finance minister Basil Rajapaksa was stopped by airport staff from leaving for the UAE, conflicting reports have appeared in the local media.
While the mission referred to speculation about India having facilitated Gotabaya’s exit, earlier reports had suggested that New Delhi had refused to let him land in an Indian civilian airport on an air force plane.
Earlier this week, the mission had to quell speculation about India sending troops to Sri Lanka –- a rumour that surfaces every time there is a crisis in the island nation, given the precedent set in the 1980s by the Indian Peace Keeping Force.
Late on Sunday night, a day after protesters overran the President’s house and burnt down the Prime Minister’s private home, the Indian mission had tweeted: “The High Commission would like to categorically deny speculative reports in sections of media and social media about India sending her troops to Sri Lanka. These reports and such views are also not in keeping with the position of the Government of India.”
In its first comments on the evolving situation in Sri Lanka after Gotabaya’s ouster, the external affairs ministry said on Wednesday that India stands with the people of Sri Lanka.
