EU warns Lanka to clean up polls act

John Cushnahan the head of the 72-member European Union mission for the November 17 presidential election said Sri Lanka had failed to implement suggestions made after observing three previous elections.

"As a friend of Sri Lanka, it would be remiss of me not to point out that if, at the end of this election, no attempt is made to implement our recommendations, any future request from Sri Lanka for election observation will fall on deaf ears," Cushnahan said.

He said the EU was "clearly frustrated" with the lack of follow up by Sri Lankan authorities after national elections.

"None of the key recommendations of three previous missions to strengthen the democratic process have been implemented," Cushnahan said. "They have merely been left on the shelf gathering dust."

He had demanded the national identity card be made mandatory to ensure no impersonation at future elections.

Two weeks ago, Sri Lanka's main opposition called for international observers to monitor the election amid fears of violence.

Sri Lanka has a history of violent elections at which candidates have been killed and party supporters have attacked each other.

Elections chief Dayananda Dissanayake announced last month that he will allow full access to poll monitors.

Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe are the main contenders for the presidency.