(UDHAYAM, COLOMBO) – Sri Lanka celebrated the International Workers’ Day to salute to those who made sacrifices to protect the labourers’ rights and overcame their challenges on Monday (01). Political parties and other organisations including a number of Trade Unions have made arrangements to hold 25 rallies island-wide to mark the May Day.
Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP)
May Day Rally of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) is held with President Maithripala Sirisena in the chair, at Getambe Ground in Kandy.
President Sirisena said the largely attended May Day rally at Gatambe in Kandy has given a boost to the victorious forward march of the SLFP-led leftist progressive forces in the country. He vowed to transform the SLFP into a pure, corrupt-free, progressive and democratic political force that could emerge victorious. He pointed out that the SLFP was burdened with corruption and malpractices and faced electoral defeats in 2015.
Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama presented the ‘Economic Policies’ of the Government at the rally. Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa presented the Environment Policy and two other policies were presented by Ministers Susil Premajayantha and S. B. Disanayake. President of the SLFP Youth Organisation, Shantha Bandara presented the youth policy. The policy with regard to women was presented by Ms Sumedha Jayasena. All of them were unanimously approved.
United National Party (UNP)
The United National Party (UNP) May Day rally organized under the patronage of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is held at Campbell Park. The theme of the rally this year is “May Day rally of winning people”.
The party presented several proposals at the May Day rally. Public Administration Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara read the proposals to the people. They included ending of political victimization, empowering and giving women more opportunities to engage in politics, providing employment to graduates and the youth, providing technology know-how to school children and ensuring a thirteen-year education and providing lands and houses to all citizens.
Joint Opposition (JO)
Joint Opposition May Rally commenced at from Slave Island, Colombo. May Day rallies which had turned into a numbers game showed the Joint Opposition of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa making an impressive show at the Galle Face green in Colombo.
Despite a slow start, the Joint Opposition crowd picked by late afternoon even though they staged the shortest procession from Slave Island to Galle Face for their May Day rally.
Unofficial estimates placed the crowd strength at the Joint Opposition rally at 4.30 p.m. as the highest in Colombo.
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP)
The May Day celebrations of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) commenced from the S. De S. Jayasinghe Ground in Dehiwala with a colourful parade. The parade was flagged off by JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and saw the participation of the JVP District Councils, Electorate Councils, Trade Unions and other affiliated organisations.
Representatives from Cuba, India and other countries were also present.
The JVP held a May Day rally in Jaffna to commemorate International Workers’ Day at the Mutraveli Grounds in Jaffna. The main May Day rally of the JVP and the procession held at the BRC Grounds, Colombo.
Democratic National Movement (DNM)
The Democratic National Movement held a May Day rally at Sangilian Grounds in Jaffna under the theme, “Humanity connecting the North and South”.
Health Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, the Leader of the Democratic National Movement, Chathura Senaratne and several other political representatives and Trade Union members attended the event.
Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU)
The May Day Rally of the Jathika Hela Urumaya took place near the E. A. Gunasinghe Memorial.
National Unity Alliance (NUA)
The May Day celebrations of the National Unity Alliance (NUA) were presided over by its leader Azath Salley in Colombo. Several Ministers including Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen and Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake were also in attendance.
Tamil National Alliance (TNA)
TNA held its rally under the patronage of Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan at Akkaraipattu in Batticaloa. Simultaneously, TNA held another rally under the patronage of Jaffna District Parliamentarian S. Sridaran in Kilinochchi.
