All parties ready to flex their muscles on May Day
Over 20 May Day rallies have been organised by political parties and trade unions across the country in what is seen as a prelude to the election campaigns.
The main parties—the United National Party (UNP), Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB), Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and the National People’s Power (NPP) backed by the JVP—have selected venues in Colombo, while several rallies are also being held in outstations.
The UNP rally will be held at Maligawatte, while the SJB procession will begin from the A.E. Gunasinghe grounds in Pettah, and the meeting will be held in Fort (near the Krish building).
The SLPP is holding its May Day rally at Campbell Park, Borella, while the NPP will begin its procession from the BRC grounds and hold its meeting near Town Hall.
UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as party leader, is due to take part in the event scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
He said Indian artists have also confirmed that they will attend the musical show to be held later in the evening.
SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariywasam said their rally is aimed at further enhancing the strength of the party.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said it will commemorate the rights of workers under the theme of a strong country and a great future: “savibala ratak, anagi hetak." The party's general secretary, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, said they have changed their venue to Chatham Street, near the Krish building.
The National People's Power (NPP), in addition to the Colombo meeting, will have meetings in Matara, Anuradhapura, and Jaffna.
A leading party member will attend the rallies to be held, Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. He said the rally in Colombo would be presided over by party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake.
The Colombo rally will start from the BRC grounds at 2 p.m.
He said the Anuradhapura rally would be held at Salgadu grounds, while the Matara rally would be held at Matara Beach Park. In Jaffna, the rally will be held at 10 a.m.
The NPP’s May Day theme is taking people's power forward to find solutions to build the country: “Rata Hhadana Visadum Wenuwen Jana Balaya Perata."
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has decided to hold its May Day event at the Gampaha Municipal Council grounds, party sources said.
Acting General Secretary Sarathie Dushmantha said they plan to hold a large-scale May Day event. He added that nobody is restricted from joining the event, despite internal issues.
A spokesperson for the Freedom People's Congress (SLPP breakaway group) said the party has not planned an
event of their own but that the party leader, Dullas Alahapperuma, has received several invitations from other parties. The party will decide on which rally to join, he said.
The Frontline Socialist Party has scheduled their rally at Hyde Park, with the procession starting from Maligakanda at 1 p.m. Publicity secretary, Pubudu Jagoda, said their theme is 'Working people, let’s defeat the IMF death trap and Indian colonisation' : Weda karnana janathawani, IMF mara ugulen ha Indiyanu yatahwijithakaranaya parajaya karamu.
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) will hold its rally at the Ananda Samarakoon open theatre.
Communist Party (CP) General Secretary G. Weerasinghe said that since there were divisions in the LSSP, some
members would join their rally along with the National Freedom Front, Democratic Left Front, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya, Manushiya Janatha Sandanaya, and Dushana Virodhi Jathika Pakshaya.
Meanwhile, trade union leaders have planned their own rallies.
The Ceylon Mercantile Union (CMU) said they will celebrate Workers' Day on a grand scale, with seven trade unions joining them on one platform.
General Secretary S.P. Nathan said they will not indulge in party politics. He added that they will begin their May Day procession from CMU headquarters at Kollupitiya. “We will take the route from Dharmapala Mawatha and will reach Viharamahadevi Park, where we will hold our event," he said.