News
Political parties gear up for low-key May Day
View(s):Political parties and trade unions are going ahead with May Day celebrations, but most have opted to curtail events due to high costs, adverse weather and delay in conducting local elections.
The main parties have decided to suspend or limit their May Day processions and restrict the events to meetings in Colombo, while the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) hascalled off its main rally and will restrict it to estate level meetings.
The United National Party (UNP) May Day meeting will be held at Sugathadasa indoor stadium and President Ranil Wickremesinghe is to address the event via Zoom. The event will begin at 9.30 a.m. UNP General Secretary Range Bandara said the theme of their May Day event would be “Driving towards victory,” (Jayagraghanaya gena ema).
The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will hold its May Day rally at Campbell Park, Borella without any processions. The Maha Jana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) and several other parties would take part in the meeting.
The SLPP May Day celebrations would be held under theme “Break through obstacles and win aspirations” (Abiyoga binda abilasaha jayagamau).
SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said they will not have a procession, because of the prevailing heat.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will hold a limited procession from P.D. Sirisena Grounds in Maligawatte to A.E. Gunasinghe Grounds in Pettah.
SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara said SJB’s May Day theme would be “The struggle of the country starts from workplace” (Wadabimen arambena mawbime aragalaya).
Party leader Sajith Premadasa and party union leaders are scheduled to attend the event.
The SLFP has planned its May Day celebrations at the public market at Kandy at 1 pm. Its theme is “Let us be strong and independent” (Niwahal wemu, sawimath wemu).
The National People’s Power (NPP), backed by the JVP, will have its May Day celebrations at Viharamahadevi Park at 4 pm. Their May Day march would begin from BRC grounds at 2pm.
The Frontline Socialists Party (FLSP) march will set out from Delkanda Junction at 1pm, while the rally will be at Ananda Samarakoon outdoor stadium. Its theme is “IMF debt trap and Indian-American imperialism”.
The Uttara Lanka Sabhagaya will hold its rally at Colombo Hyde Park under the theme of “Against the foreigner-backed governance that is selling the country.”
The Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) will have its May Day celebrations at Kandy on the theme “Freedom for all”.
Police Media Spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said yesterday that they were still finalising security arrangements, and would only publicise the arrangements later today.
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