Huge cut-outs of the President with the "lamp" symbol displayed in a number of public places is a direct violation of the referendum act, the opposition charged yesterday.

UNP MP Karunasena Kodituwakku said that the government as done in previous elections have begun to violate the law and the moral obligations. He asserted that the police are turning a blind eye to these "blatant" violations of the law including the holding of demonstrations and protest marches by PA politicians. "It shows that they are above the law," he said.

Referring to a huge cut-out of the President displayed in Kotte near the turn to Parliament he said: "It looks as if the president is administering the place where the road was barricaded to prevent MPs from entering parliament early last month."

Section 50 of the referendum act No.7 of 1981 states: "During the period commencing from the date of publication of the proclamation and ending on the day following the day on which a poll is taken at a Referendum, no person shall, for the purpose of promoting a referendum, display-

(a) in any premises, whether public or private, any flag or banner; or

(b) any handbill, placard, poster, drawing, notice, symbol or sign on any place to which the public have a right of, or are granted, access except in or any premises on any day on which a meeting to promote the referendum is due to be held in that premises; or

(c) any handbill, placard, poster, drawing , notice, symbol sign, flag or banner, on or across any public road; or

(d) any handbill, placard, poster, drawing notice, symbol or any sign in or on any vehicle."

it also states: "Any police officer may take steps, and use such force, as may be reasonably necessary for preventing any contravention of the provisions of subsection (1) and may seize and remove any handbill, placard poster, notice, drawing, symbol, sign flag, or banner used in such contravention." (KA)