Only Red Flag bearing Hammer and Chisel should be exhibited at May Day - JVP

May day began in Chicago in USA in the 19th century when some factory workers took to the street against exploitation . The workers on that occasion carried white flags They have even failed in managing solid waste and that is why garbage piles are falling on people killing scores of them

The JVP said only red flags bearing the hammer and chisel should be the only legitimate flags that should be exhibited at May Day rallies and processions as these are the only ones which truly symbolizes the workers.

JVP affiliated Ceylon Teacher Services Union General Secretary Mahinda Jayasinghe told a media briefing that flags of different colours are not relevant when it comes to May Day.

“May day began in Chicago in USA in the 19th century when some factory workers took to the street against exploitation . The workers on that occasion carried white flags. However later in the following years, the workers carried red flags to commemorate the blood bath which killed some of their fellow workers during the Chicago protest. The hammer and chisel was added during the latter years to signify peasants, carpenters and the workers in general” he said.

Mr Jayasinghe said his party intends converting its May Day Rally in to a struggle to shift the working class to become rulers of this country. “Rulers of this country have proved to be a failure during the last 69 years. They have even failed in managing solid waste and that is why garbage piles are falling on people killing scores of them” he added.

He said the JVP will hold two May Day rallies this year. Accordingly he said one will be held in Colombo on May 1 2017 while the other would be held in Jaffna on April 30 for the people in the North. In addition the party has organized a seminar on May Day in Colombo on April 25, 2017.