Political parties use May Day rallies as launching pad for election campaigns

Main political parties today marked their May Day celebrations in Sri Lanka, unofficially launching their election campaigns with upcoming polls in mind.

The main parties – UNP, SJB, and NPP backed by the JVP and the SLPP held their May Day rallies in Colombo with all of them touching on the upcoming polls.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the UNP May Day rally at Maligawatta appealed to both SJB and the NPP not to destroy the achievements made, and to think about the people preserving the current situation by engaging into an agreement with the government.  

He said political parties should not engage in traditional politics and appealed to the JVP and SJB to join them to secure the economy for the youth.

He requested the support of the whole country to make an economic reform and protect the prevailing stability of the country. The president pointed out that hard decisions needed to be taken for the betterment of the country, therefore it was necessary to take the decision to increase the VAT.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) supporters drawn in from various parts of the country marched to Chatham Street, Colombo to attend what they believe was the last May Day celebration they were taking part in as an opposition party.

Waving green and yellow flags the supporters listened to speech after speech, with all of them promising that the next May Day rally will be held under a SJB Government.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa made a string of pledges which he said would be implemented during his government.

He said, his party has already set an example by performing while in the opposition and already has provided smart school rooms and medical equipment to schools.

Mr Premadasa said that he would go ahead with a revised IMF agreement under their government. The formation of a Special Task Force for the rights of women and children, a programme to assist disabled persons, the establishment of a National Youth Project, establishment of an independent organisation including one to fight against corruption were among the pledges made.

Mr Premadasa said that measures would be taken to recover stolen assets and those responsible for the Easter Sunday attack would be dealt with. Mr Premadasa said he would dedicate himself to implementing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

In view of 2024 being the election year, former President of Sri Lanka and Leader of Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Mahinda Rajapaksa speaking at its May Day Rally expressed his confidence that the candidate backed by the SLPP will emerge victorious in this year’s presidential contest.

It seems evident that there is a strong likelihood that the SLPP will not run for president this year.

Former President Rajapaksa also vowed that the SLPP would always support the general public, regardless of the nation’s political climate in the country. 

Leader of the NPP Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressing the May Day rally in Matara said this was the final May Day rally held under a corrupt regime and the next would be under a NPP Government.

‘Thousands have gathered at our May day rallies and their objective is to create a better future for the future generation’, he said

The May Day rally, organized by Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK) saw thousands of workers from various walks of life taking part in the march which commenced from Kilinochchi town towards the playground of Kilinochchi Central College where the convention was held. 

ITAK leader S. Shritharan, senior leaders Mavai Senathiraja and C.V.K. Sivagnanam took part in the event which was Presided by Seeniyan Thuraisingham, former Manager of Cooperative Society of Palmyrah Development Association (Kilinochchi). 

 In its May Day declaration, the party has called on the government to ensure the rights of workers, particularly those in the war-affected regions of North and Eastern provinces who are still trying to come out of wartime legacies amidst ongoing economic crisis. 

Meanwhile, the May Day procession of the Frontline Socialist Party started near Ananda College and arrived at  Hyde Park. Party Secretary Kumar Gunarathnam addressed the gathering.
Duminda Nagamuwa, Lahiru Weerasekara and Pubudu Jagoda and other party leaders attend this meeting.

Reporting by: Kasun Warakapitiya, Nathara Abeywickrema,  Dilushi Wijesinghe and S. Rubatheesan

United National Party (UNP)

President Ranil Wickeremsinghe addressing the party's May Day Rally said that the United National Party UNP has always taken up challenges faced by the country and he had to take over as the Prime Minister and later as the President of the country as the political system collapsed.

A colourful May Day rally was held today with the participation of thousands of party supporters at Malligawatte in front of P. de Sirisena grounds to mark  May Day celebrations.

President  Wickremesinghe pointed out that the opposition leader should have taken over the country's leadership during the crisis, however, he turned it down during the crisis by not taking over the country and responsibility.

 “I was the leader of a party which only had one seat in the Parliament. However I took over responsibility, UNP never runs away from challenges”, he said.

The president said that he was happy to see cutouts of various parties such as SLPP, and NPP at Maradana Junction which portrayed the democracy of the country.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) 

Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) supporters drawn in from various parts of the country marched to Chatham Street, Colombo to attend what they believe was the last May Day celebration they were taking part as an  opposition party.

Waving  green and yellow flags the supporters listened to speech after speech, with all of them promising that the next May Day rally will be held under a SJB Government.

Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa made a string of pledges which he said would be implemented during his government.

He said, his party has already set an example by performing while in the opposition and already has provided smart school rooms and medical equipment to schools.

Mr Premadasa said that he would go ahead with a revised IMF agreement under their government.

The formation of a Special Task Force for the rights of women and children, a programme to assist the disabled persons, establishment of a National Youth Project, establishment of independent organisation including one to fight against corruption were among the pledges made.

Mr Premadasa said that measures would be taken recover stolen assets and those responsible for the Easter Sunday attack would be dealt with. He also stressed that he would dedicate himself implement the 13th Amendment to the Constitution.

General Secretary of the SJB Ranjith Madduma Bandara said the party needs only two million votes to be successful at the next Presidential elections.

Sri Lanka Podhujana Peramuna (SLPP)

Former President of Sri Lanka and Leader of Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing its May Day Rally asserted that the SLPP continues to hold the people’s hearts and noted that they have been by their side when they were in power as well as when they were not.

Sri Lanka marked the International Labour Day today (May 1) with a rally held at the Campbell Ground in Borella. The SLPP had opted not to schedule a procession for this year’s May Day event, same as last year.

Mr Rajapaksa,  claimed that by taking lessons from its past missteps, the SLPP is prepared to move forward with its planned programs.

He pledged that the SLPP, irrespective of the political atmosphere in the country, will help turn today’s workman into a professional tomorrow on its way forward to a developed country.

Meanwhile, the National Organizer of the SLPP MP Namal Rajapaksa emphasized how the SLPP will bring incentives to support local business owners, farmers, and fishers in order to improve the local economy as it moves forward.

There, he made a point that if these areas were reinforced, the Sri Lankan economy would stabilize and there would be no need for importation from other nations.

Wording on significant changes that technology has brought about in the globe, MP Namal said that SLPP will also address the necessity of integrating technology into the aforementioned fields. He said that SLPP will also address that.

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena speaking at SLPP’s May Day rally, lauded the  enormous contribution that the workforce makes to the economy. According to MP Gunawardena, a national policy will be in place to improve working-class rights, such as lowering living expenses as it remains a national priority.

National Peoples' Power

Addressing the Colombo rally of the National People's Movement (NPP), Party Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake said “This is no longer a party... It's a People's movement representing all communities that will change the nation.”

The Colombo rally took place on C.W.W.Kannangara Mw, Colombo 7 with the procession beginning at the BRC grounds. Furthermore, rallies took place in Matara, Anuradhapura, and Jaffna today.

Identifying the potential takeover of the government of the country as “the brightest political transition in Sri Lanka after 76 years”, Mr Dissanayake said that criminals identified by the law such as murderers, rapists and drug dealers would not get Presidential pardon like in the present.

Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchchi (ITAK)

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP)

Reporting by: Kasun Warakapitiya, Nathara Abeywickrema,  Dilushi Wijesinghe and S. Rubatheesan

Photographs: Dilushi Wijesinghe, Indika Handuwala, Akila Jayawardena,Nilan Maligaspe, N.Lohathayalan and M.A. Pushpakumara