Sri Lanka's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva Tamara Kunanayakam has been demoted after the organisation adopted a motion critical of the country.
Kunanayakam, one of the few Sri Lankan ambassadors who are Tamil, has been reappointed as the envoy to Cuba, a post she vacated nine months ago.
The transfer comes amid reports of divisions within the foreign ministry.
A senior Sri Lankan official said her transfer back to Cuba was a routine matter and had nothing to do with the UN motion.
According to The BBC, Kunanayakam will be removed from the Geneva post in July despite expressing strong wishes to stay in the job.
In a letter to the foreign minister on 1 May, Kunanayaka said she had loyally carried out the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Ironically, she said Rajapaksa had ruled out reappointing her to a previous posting like Cuba as this 'would be interpreted as a demotion'.
"Removing one of the very few Tamils heading diplomatic missions abroad will allow questioning of the government's commitment to reconciliation," she said.
According to the report, Kunanayakam had been in the post just nine months and her removal means Sri Lanka will have had four Geneva ambassadors in the space of three years.
Tuesday, May 21st | Last update07:13:26 AM GMT
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