May Day may be celebrated on different days this year

By Nadia Fazlulhaq

The Govt has decided to make arrangements to celebrate May Day on April 30, declaring it a public holiday.

This decision had been taken due to Vesak poya day falling on May 1. No particular day has been named to celebrate May Day.
“No particular day have been named as May Day this year, so trade unions are given the chance to celebrate on a day of their choice. It might be on April 29, 30 or May 1,” said Labour Commissioner General D. Somaweera Edirisinghe.

Governor Western Province and senior SLFP member Alavi Moulana said the SLFP would be celebrating May Day on April 30 at the Colombo Town Hall grounds. JVP trade union wing leader K.D. Lal Kantha said the JVP rallies which are massive needs more roads for the parades, police security and a ground for the rally.

“We haven’t decided a day yet, it might be either on April 29 or 30. Even though we haven’t yet decided on the day our parades and bands are getting ready for the celebrations” he said.

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said trade unions affiliated to the UNP have decided not to celebrate May Day or have rallies but perform religious observances as the May Day falls on a Poya day. He said the UNP Working Committee would meet on April 3 to ratify these decisions.