BY A STAFF REPORTER: India has exerted influence at the political level in sri lanka's presidential election, it was reported in some media outlets. Today, India has dismissed that claim. The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka said in a statement, "Reports about India's efforts at the political level to influence Sri Lankan political leaders with regard to the election to the post of President to the Sri Lankan Parliament are baseless and totally speculative. We deny these media reports as completely false. "