May Day Rallies Around the Island Today

 Sri Lanka will commemorate the International Workers’ Day today.

Following a request made by the Chief Prelates and the Maha Sangha, the government decided to postpone the May-Day celebration by a week owing to the National Vesak Week.

Accordingly, the government issued a gazette notification, declaring a special May-Day on the 7th of May.

A number of political parties and trade unions have decided to hold May-Day rallies and processions to commemorate the International Labour Day today.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party May Day rally themed ‘Promoting Reconciliation and Inter-Communal Harmony’ will be held at Chenkalady, Batticaloa today under the auspices of SLFP Leader President Maithripala Sirisena.

Meanwhile the May Day rally of the Joint Opposition (JO) will take place in the Southern province as their rally will be held at the Samanala grounds in Galle today, led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa with the participation of all other constituent parties.

The JO says the rally will be used as a platform to protest against the Government’s moves to sell national resources, rising inflation and political victimisation.

 In the meantime, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) will hold its second May Day rally for the year in Colombo today. The party had earlier held a rally on May 1 in Jaffna in defiance of the government’s decision to postpone International Workers’ Day celebrations.

The May Day procession of the party will commence, led by its party leaders, from Campbell Park at 1.00 p.m. going on to gather at the BRC ground for its rally.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) will also be holding a May Day rally which will commence from the Colombo Public Library at 9.00 a.m. today. It’s party members will gather at the Colombo New Town Hall where Anagarika Dharmapala and Trade unionist E.A. Gunasinghe will be commemorated.