* EU poll observers for Sri Lanka election yet to get permission from Elections Commissioner says Mangala
Wed, Mar 17, 2010, 06:29 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.

Mar 17, Colombo: Co-chairman of Sri Lanka's opposition alliance (UNF) and SLFP (M) Wing Leader Mangala Samaraweera said the Elections Commissioner was yet to grant permission to the European Union (EU) poll observers to arrive in Sri Lanka to monitor the April 8 general elections.

Samaraweera said, "We have reliable information that the international election monitors have not yet been given permission to monitor the general elections by the Elections Commissioner."

He noted that the government was conspiring to stop the EU poll monitors from arriving in the country to observe the April 8 elections.

"After the Presidential election, people have asked to safeguard their votes and we have informed the Elections Commissioner that we needed more foreign monitors," he said.

Samaraweera said that although the EU has agreed to send poll observers, the Elections Commissioner has not permitted it.

"If the Elections Commissioner fails to grant permission for the EU delegation by Friday, the EU would not be able to send in a group of poll observers," he said.