Sri Lanka plans 'non binding' referendum

[TamilNet, Thursday, 30 October 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Government sources revealed today that plans are afoot to hold the 'non-binding referendum' in March or April next year. The elections to the provincial councils are also due around this time.

These sources said that the PA leadership is now considering whether it should postpone the provincial council elections in order to prepare the ground for the non-binding referendum.

The government says that it will submit its proposals and the 'riders' attached to it by the UNP, SLMC, TULF, PLOTE, CWC and the EPDP for approval at this referendum.

It has also indicated that it will use a favourable verdict to form a constituent assembly. This assembly will pass a new constitution which will replace the present one, brought into effect in 1978, according to government sources.

However the TULF and the UNP say that the subjects to be placed before the people at the referendum should first be discussed with the Liberation Tigers.

The other Tamil groups are not sure as to how they should respond to the non-binding referendum.