Political parties and unions have planned to celebrate the 137th Labour Day this year with rallies and meetings in Colombo and outstations today.
The major political parties in the country, United National Party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, Samagi Jana Balawegaya and Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna will celebrate May Day in Colombo while the Sri Lanka Freedom Party will have their May Day event in Kandy.
The Samajawadi Janatha Peramuna and Uttara Lanka Peramuna and Frontline Socialist Party will also hold May Day events in Colombo, while the Nidahas Janatha Sabhawa will celebrate May Day in Kandy. The United National Party (UNP) will hold its May Day rally on the theme of ‘Victory by 2048’ at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo from 9 am onwards, with the party’s union the Jathika Sevaka Sangamaya, the Youth Front and the Lak Wanitha Front leading the way.
Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna will hold its May rally at Borella Campbell Park in Colombo from 2.00 pm under the theme ‘Let’s overcome challenges and win’. The SLPP May Day rally will be held under the patronage of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa MP.
Samagi Janabalawegaya with the participation of its trade unions and under the leadership of the party and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa, will hold its May rally from 3.00 pm in E.A.Gunasinghe grounds in Pettah. Arrangements have been made to start the May Day procession at 1 pm near Maligawatta P.D. Sirisena Stadium.
Janatha Vimukti Peramuna May rally will start at 4pm with all trade unions, youth and women’s associations affiliated to the party near the Viharamaha Devi Garden in Colombo under the theme of ‘Let’s build a people’s government against the corrupt regime that is selling the country and oppressing the people’. The procession will begin at 2 pm from Havelock Town BRC Stadium.
Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s May Rally will be held in front of the Kandy Public Market at 1.00 pm.
Meanwhile, a May rally organized by the Ilengei Thamil Arasu Kachchi party will be held in Jaffna at 2 pm and arrangements are being made to hold a May rally in Batticaloa in the fishing village called Kaluvankerni as well.
The Ceylon Workers Congress will not hold a May rally this year under the leadership of its leader, Minister Jeevan Thondaman, and instead will organize fifty meetings in the estates where its branches are located for the celebration of May Day.
The Nidahas Janatha Sabhawa will hold its May rally in Kandy.