Our May Day will be an anti-unp May Day: Lanka Sama Samaja Party

Tissa Vitarana who is the General Secretary of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, said they joined hands with the Joint Opposition to celebrate May Day against the Unp-led government which he said is disregarding the real needs of workers while strengthening capitalism.

“We need to hold a May Day Rally against the UNP government that is not protecting the rights of the people. This UNP government is implementing principles that reduced the welfare of the people. How can they protect the working class while increasing VAT on all goods and services? On May Day, we intend to send a message to the people it is high time to topple the government because it has placed burdens on the working class.”

“The former government did not follow anti-working class principles. Arbitrary decisions were not made by the then government to give maximum facilities to the capital class. But, this government does everything focusing the betterment of the capital class. These are the reasons why we decided to hold a separate May Day rally to re-establish the rights of the working class.”

“We never distributed alcohol and packets of rice to bring more people to our rallies. A few days ago, when I went to Yatiyanthota for a personal reason, I came to know that the UNP district organisers have started collecting people to attend the UNP May Day rally by distributing alcohol and money. The same procedure is being followed by the SLFP these days. We are the only ones who are celebrating May Day meaningfully. The largest crowd will be seen in the Joint Opposition rally in Kirulapone,” However, allegations that alcohol, rice packets and money are distributed for political rally goers came under heavy criticism during the former government which was headed by then President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Even after the recent political rally organised by the Joint Opposition at the Hyde Park Grounds, Colombo in March, photographs and videos showed a considerable number of people who attended the rally carrying bottles of alcoholic beverages.

Some of them were seen already under the influence of alcohol.