The President has however said that it will not be easy for the LTTE to deceive her. “I am not prepared for talks that will lead to a separation of the country, but would negotiate for the sovereignty of the country,” she told the delegation.

According to the President, the LTTE has informed that they are willing to talk to any government with a ‘positive outlook’. Published: Tue Mar 16 12:21:05 EST 2004

Meanwhile the EUEOM issuing a statement regarding today morning’s meeting, said that, “when locating polling stations two conditions must be fulfilled and they are; the need to ensure that every voter can exercise their franchise and secondly it must comply with the obligation under the law that there is a police presence in all polling stations.”

Meanwhile the Human Rights Commission has taken immediate steps to monitor how election rules and regulations will be observed during the April 2 polls. The Commission hopes to carry out this program island-wide through their 10 regional offices. Complaints of election related violence and malpractices will be examined extensively by the commission, following which advice and recommendations will be given to officers involved in the programme. Published: Tue Mar 16 12:13:20 EST 2004