by Namini Wijedasa
Yesterday was the last day for political parties to inform the elections commissioner about their official stand on the referendum but only a few parties had complied by afternoon, elections officials said.

"I am still waiting for the response of some parties," said Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake, declining to name those who had already informed him about their choice.

Political parties are allocated television and radio time for campaigning on the basis of whether they support, oppose or are neutral about the referendum, the officials explained.

The Referendum (Amendment) Act 17 of 1988 gives political parties seven days from the date of proclamation to indicate whether their decision was to back a lamp vote (yes) or pot vote (no). Based on this decision, and using a complex formula, the elections commissioner will allocate television and radio time for parties to campaign.

Any party which did not express their standpoint to the commissioner by the end of seven days, is considered neutral and would only be allocated a total of 15 minutes on radio or television. The parties also have a 10 days from the date of proclamation to forward to the commissioner names of their referendum agents but none have complied so far.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and the Sihala Urumaya are among the parties who have expressed opposition to the referendum. Although the UNP has not officially announced its decision, Parliamentary Whip Tyronne Fernando said the party was expected to inform the commissioner that it was against the plebiscite.

The National Unity Alliance was for the referendum while the Tamil United Liberation Front had not reached a decision. However, the standpoint of each political party was not immediately available.

In the meantime, the government was busy. Ministers are to start canvassing public support for its referendum after a ministerial committee overseeing the plebiscite finalises and produces a four-point manifesto, People’s Alliance sources said yesterday.

The committee was expected to close discussions on the manifesto yesterday. It met under Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake, its vice chairman, and discussed proposals to set up independent commissions, change the electoral system, abolish the executive presidency and devolve power.

Last week, President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who chairs the committee, urged the public to vote for constitutional change at the August 21 referendum. The plebiscite is based on the question: "Are you in agreement with the proposal that the country needs a new constitution, which is nationally important and an essential requirement."

Meanwhile, the elections commissioner has extended the time period given to displaced persons and those in uncleared areas to apply for a vote at the referendum. An assistant district commissioner in the north said that application forms for this category have not yet been printed by the government printer but were expected today.