More than 6000 police to be deployed for May Day

More than 6000 Police officers will deployed  for over 40 May Day rallies and processions organized across the country, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Nihal Thalduwa said.

He said as part of the security arrangements, persons using drones for coverage of May Day events would have to obtain prior permission.

Special traffic arrangements have been made for tomorrow.

The United National Party (UNP) has organized its May Day events at Maligawatta.

Party General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said President Ranil Wickremesinghe is due to take part in the event scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.

He said Indian artists have also confirmed that they will attend the musical show to be held later in the evening.

The Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuana (SLPP) is holding its May Day rally at Campbell Park, Borella.

SLPP General Secretary Sagara Kariywasam said their rally is aimed at further enhancing the strength of the party.

The Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) said it will commemorate the rights of workers under the theme of a strong country and a great future: “savibala ratak, anagi hetak.” The party’s general secretary, Ranjith Madduma Bandara, said they have selected Chatham Street, near the Krish building as their venue.

He added that the procession will start at the A.E. Gunasinghe grounds around 2 p.m. The SJB, too, plans to conclude the evening with entertainment.

The National People’s Power (NPP) will have a leading party member at each of the rallies to be held in four cities: Colombo, Matara, Anuradhapura, and Jaffna, said member Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa. He said the rally in Colombo would be held in near the Dewatagaha mosque. Party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake would lead this event.

The Colombo rally would start from the BRC grounds at 2 p.m.

He said the Anuradhapura rally would be held at Salgadu grounds, while the Matara rally would be held at Matara Beach Park. In Jaffna, the rally will be held at 10 a.m.

The NPP’s May Day theme is taking people’s power forward to find solutions to build the country: “Rata Hadana Visadum Wenuwen Jana Balaya Perata.“.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) had decided to hold their May Day event at the Gampaha Municipal Council grounds, party sources said.

Acting General Secretary Sarathie Dushmantha said they plan to hold a large-scale May Day event. He added that nobody is restricted from joining the event, despite internal issues.

A spokesperson for the Freedom People’s Congress (SLPP breakaway group) said the party has not planned an event of their own but that the party leader, Dullas Alahapperuma, has received several invitations from other parties. The party will decide on which rally to join, he said.

The Frontline Socialist Party has scheduled their rally at Hyde Park, with the procession starting from Maligakanda at 1 p.m. Publicity Secretary, Pubudu Jagoda, said their theme is Working people, let’s defeat the IMF death trap and Indian colonisation (weda karnana janathawani, IMF mara ugulen ha Indiyanu yatahwijithakaranaya parajaya karamu).

The Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) will hold its rally at the Ananda Samarakoon open theatre.

Communist Party (CP) General Secretary G. Weerasinghe said that since there were divisions in the LSSP, some members would join their rally along with the National Freedom Front, Democratic Left Front, Pivithuru Hela Urumaya, Sri Lanka Mahajana Pakshaya, Manushiya Janatha Sandanaya, and Dushana Virodhi Jathika Pakshaya.

Meanwhile, trade union leaders have planned their own rallies.

The Ceylon Mercantile Union (CMU) said they will celebrate Workers’ Day on a grand scale, with seven trade unions joining them on one platform.

General Secretary S.P. Nathan said they will not indulge in party politics. He added that they will begin their May Day procession from CMU headquarters at Kollupitiya. “We will take the route from Dharmapala Mawatha and will reach Viharamahadevi Park, where we will hold our event,” he said.