May Day: GotaGoGama at Galle Face Green to grab the spotlight this year

Opposition parties will hold processions and rallies, but ruling alliance goes low key

Opposition parties have organised major May Day rallies today with the ruling Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) and affiliated parties organising low-key events.

As political parties and unions have organised a string of events to mark May Day, the Galle Face Green where thousands have been demonstrating for more than three weeks is also set to draw attention.

The ruling SLPP has decided to celebrate workers day only through its union wing.

SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said this year’s May Day celebration would be held by the SLPP aligned trade unions at the Ananda Samarakoon open air theatre in Nugegoda.

He said they had decided on this after considering the problems of gathering large crowds by using buses and spending fuel when the country is facing a crisis situation.

Mr. Kariyawasam said they were confident they could gather numbers and claimed many who were protesting against the Government were those who voted for Opposition candidate Sajith Premadasa at the Presidential election in 2019.

SLPP aligned trade union leader Bandula Saman Kumara said the theme of their event was Abiyoga Mada Nosalena Handa.

He said trade unions which were aligned with the party would hold the event with the participation of Ministers Dinesh Gunawardena and Gamini Lokuge.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB)led by Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa will hold its May Day rally in Colombo. Senior party members said even though they were concerned over the security of party supporters, they were standing with the people of the country.

SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said they had decided to start their May Day procession from Campbell Park and march to

the Town Hall premises. The march will begin at 1.00pm today.

SJB supporters have been marching in a procession from Kandy from Tuesday onwards, and will join the May Day rallies.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and the United National Party (UNP) will stage protests and carry out protest marches instead of their usual processions and rallies.

SLFP General Secretary Dayasiri Jayasekara said they would hold protests in every district calling on the President, the Prime Minister and Government to resign.

UNP Assistant Leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said their party supporters would march from the new Town Hall to Galle Face Green.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has organised four May Day rallies i n C o l o m b o, Mat a r a , Anuradhapura and Jaffna. JVP Politburo member Lal Kantha said despite the prevailing socio- political situation, they had planned to hold a colourful May Day celebration. He said the venue and times of the procession

could change with new developments.

The left aligned parties too were making their own preparations to celebrate workers day separated from the major parties.

The National Freedom Front (NFF) has planned to hold its May Day rally at Ape Gama in Battaramulla at 2.00 pm. The theme of the event is “May Rally against Imperialism.” Party leader Wimal Weerawansa is scheduled to deliver the main speech of the rally.

Lanka Sama Samaja Party Leader Tissa Vitharana said the Communist Party, Democratic Left Party, the Mahajana party and Desha Vimukthi Janatha Party would hold their workers day celebrations separately.

Dr Vitharana said they planned to go in procession towards Union Place via Dr Colvin R. de Silva Mawatha and hold their May Day rally at Hyde Park.

The Frontline Socialist Party will hold its May Day rally at the Viharamahadevi Park’s open air stadium.

The Frontline Socialist Party