Sri Lanka’s political parties, trade unions and people’s groups have organized marches and rallies to mark the International Workers’ Day, also called May Day, amidst the political and economic crises in the country.
Political parties have decided to hold the May Day celebrations in a different light this year in the face of the economic, political and social crises that had engulfed the country.
The May Day rally organized by the Trade Union Confederation affiliated to the ruling party Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will be held at 2pm at the Ananda Samarakoon Open-Air Theater in Nugegoda under the theme ‘ජනවරම සුරකිමු, අභියෝග ජයගමු’.
The SLPP said the May Day will be celebrated with the participation of a limited number of representatives of local government bodies and trade unions, taking into account the economic situation in the country, including the fuel crisis.
The May Day celebrations of the main opposition party Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will be held at Independence Square. The protest march ‘Samagi Bala Walk’ commenced from Kandy on the 26th will end at the Campbell Park today and from there the people will march to the Independence Square to hold the “May Rally of the Century of the Freedom Struggle”.
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has decided to celebrate May Day in four major cities of the country this year. Accordingly, May Day demonstrations and rallies have been organized in Colombo, Matara, Anuradhapura and Jaffna on May 01.
The May Day demonstration and rally in Jaffna will be held on May 1 at 10 am, while the May Day rallies in Colombo, Matara and Anuradhapura will be held at 3 pm on the same day. It is the first time that the party will hold four May Day demonstrations and rallies across the country on the same day.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) May Day rally will be held at 10am at the SLFP headquarters on Darley Road under the leadership of SLFP Chairman former President Maithripala Sirisena.
Leader of the United National Party (UNP) former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will address the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya May Day meeting at 11am at New Town Hall today. The UNP youth front will join protesters at Galle Face.
The combined May Day rally of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, the Communist Party of Sri Lanka, the Democratic Left Front, the Sri Lanka Mahajana Party and the All Ceylon United Trade Union Alliance is scheduled to begin at 2 pm near De Mel Grounds, Slave Island. The May Day rally jointly organized by the leftist parties and organizations will commence at 3 pm at Hyde Park.
The Deputy Leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF) Jayantha Samaraweera stated that arrangements have been made to hold its May Day celebrations at Ape Gama premises in Battaramulla.