Sri Lanka Government warns press

The Sri Lankan Government has warned local publications against printing or broadcasting what it called false information about the forthcoming referendum on the constitution.

An official notice did not call it censorship, but said publishing such information could lead to prosecution.

Nothing was said about what kind of punishment might follow, nor was it specified what false information meant.

The warning comes after growing protests by opposition parties.

President Kumaratunga called the referendum after suspending parliament ahead of a confidence vote against the government.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service