International observers said they had received complaints of voter intimidation before this week’s Sri Lankan presidential election, in which the incumbent faces a tough battle to win a third term, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

The 55-member panel of monitors have told AFP reporters they had already received complaints that the military had set up 400 roadblocks to discourage minority Tamils from voting freely in former war zones.

“According to the opposition these roadblocks are to keep away the voters... (but) we are told (by the authorities) that the military has no role to play in these election,” said the monitoring team leader S. Y. Quraishi. “We are yet to see that.”

He said international observers would Monday begin fanning out to the 22 electoral districts across the island to check out the final rallies. They will also be present at polling booths on Thursday during a nine-hour period when some 15 million people are eligible to vote.

“The police have assured us that they will guarantee that the election is free and fair,” Quraishi said. “At the moment, we have to take their word.” The monitors have been invited by Sri Lanka’s election chief Mahinda Deshapriya, who told them he was confident of conducting a fair election.

Private local election monitors have said they received nearly 1,100 complaints since campaigning got underway in early December. Police said they had received a much smaller number of complaints, but that 130 arrests had been made. (AFP)