International observers need MoD clearance to visit North

International election monitors at Sri Lanka's presidential election on January 8, will require clearance from the Ministry of Defence to visit the Northern Province, reports the Sunday Times.lk. 
“We have not lifted the restrictions on travel to the North. Foreign nationals will not be allowed to visit the North under ‘blanket approval’ without obtaining necessary clearance from the Defence ministry,” the military spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said on Saturday.
The monitors will require a recommendation from the Election Commissioner, including their passport details, to the Ministry of Defence, prior to being granted permission to travel.
“If there is no recommendation from the Commissioner, we will not know the purposes of these visits by the foreign nationals. If not, they have to follow the same procedure in place,” he added.
The Election Commissioner will only issue permits for polls monitors to 300 of the 1115 counting centres, the paper added.