Abu-Abdillah Shu`la, in his book صفوة الراسخ في علم المنسوخ والناسخ, pages 102-103, discusses this claim without taking sides, though he comes across as rejecting it.
He mentions a story without authentication that is interesting. He says that when this verse was revealed,
people asked the Prophet (PBUH), "O Messenger of God, how do we call upon Him: privately or publicly?", that's when this verse was revealed,
So, they asked him, "How do we call upon Him: facing the Qibla or not?". That's when 2:115 was revealed.
That story implies that 2:115 is talking about supplication and not prayer, which 2:144 is talking about. Thus, there is no cause to think abrogation of either one. A reasonable refutation. I just wish that Shu`la, or his book verifier, Dr. M. Ibrahim Faaris, had authenticated this story.