and local journalists. Government information could be provided subject to the interests of privacy, Stat8 privilege or official secrets. No affirmative action had been taken on behalf of religious amity because it would be regarded by some as interference in their religious rights. 402. With reference to that issue, members of the Committee asked for information about the number, membership, organieation and effectiveness of trade unions in Sri Lanka and a description of the relevant laws and practices relatiny to the establishment of political parties and concerning public They also wished to know what had been the impact on the exercise meetings. of the right to freedom of assembly and association, if any, of the lengthy period of the state of emergency; to what extent it had been possible to exercise the right to freedom of assemblyr and whether Sri Lankan law prohibited discrimination in hiring and promotion and prescribed civil remedies in the event of violations. 483. In reply, the representative said that there were 1,004 registered trade unions and that collective bargaining was fully operational in both the state and the private sector. Any group of persons could register itself as a political party, as evidenced by the fact that even militant groups had political wings registered as political parties, Public meetings could be held freely provided prior approval had been obtained from the local police to ensure that there were no law and order or traffic problems as a result of the holding of such meetings. Notwithstanding the state of emergency, provincial council, presidential and parliamentary elections had been held recently throughout the"country, and, except in certain parts of the north and east, local authority elections would be held in May 1991. Emergency regulations were temporarily suspended whenever the Commission of Elections found that they hindered the election process. Trade union activity was not restricted except i.n the free trade zone , where foreign companies had secured special non-trade union terms on the grounds that the wages they paid were higher than elsewhere. 404. With regard to that issue, members of the Committee wished to receive information on the law and practice relating to the employment of minors and illustrations oE the activities undertaken by the Presidential Commission on Youth Unrest. They also asked whether children born out of wedlock had the same rights as children born in wedlock and what the impact of the Children's Charter, if adopted, would be on the enjoyment of the rights of the child under the Covenant. 455. Responding to questions put by members of the Committee, the representative said that persons under the age of 14 years could not be employed. Children born out of wedlock would enjoy the nationality of the mother, whereas legitimate chiidren took the father's nationality. The Children's Charter had been signed, and the Government was studying the World Declaration on the Survival, Protection and Development of Children and the Plan of Action for its implementation in the 1990s. -122-