Amidst reports of poll violence on the rise in the run up to the Sixth Presidential election, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa says that the island nation still faces a severe threat from separatists though the LTTE has been militarily crushed and the country united after a 30-year war.Presidential website says that in an interaction with the local media on Wednesday, the Sri Lankan President charged the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim congress (SLMC) , Rauff Hakeem of trying to revive the separatist movement once spearheaded by the LTTE.Trying to reach out to the Tamils, whose votes are being considered very crucial in the forthcoming elections, Mahinda Rajapaksa expressed his readiness to ease the security restrictions in the High Security Zones (HSZ) of Jaffna, but said it cannot be done over night as not much time had elapsed since the war ended. He said that even in times of peace, security of key installations could not be compromised and that no one should seek political advantage out of a purely security matter. He added that easing of restrictions would depend on a careful study of the ground situation.The President also gave indications that gradually security restrictions imposed in the Northern and Eastern Provinces as well as other parts of the country will be relaxed because the LTTE no longer posed a conventional military threat.In his interaction with the local media representatives Mr. Rajapaksa expressed confidence of securing Tamil votes as a far greater majority of the Tamil Parties were in support of him, than with the opposition common candidate. ‘Thondaman, Douglas Devananda, Pillayan, and Sidharthan are all with me,’ he said.However, the pro LTTE Tamil National Alliance (TNA) led by R Sampanthan , has thrown his weight behind the opposition contender and the former Army Chief Sarath Fonseka.The President said he was ready to discuss proposals with regard to Constitutional amendments, including electoral reforms with other political parties and also with the consent of the people. He called for cooperation among political parties to achieve a lasting solution to the national question. Rajapaksa also gave assurance to ‘reduce unnecessary powers’ of the Executive Presidency, if voted back to power.However, the issue of merger of the Eastern Province with the Northern Province was out of the question, the President said reiterating his commitment to thwart whatever attempt was made to divide the country on the ethnic lines.