While every party was ready to prove that the May Rally, which they had organised had the largest number of people, only President Ranil Wickremesinghe worked for the country.
However, tens of thousands of people thronged near the Maligawatta police station to show their gratitude for the dedication of a “single person” to uplift the collapsed economy.
President Wickremesinghe went to Kotagala on May Day and gave a gift to the plantation workers. That made their daily wage Rs. 1,700.
The President, who arrived at the CWC May Day rally in Kotagala, gave this message amidst the cheers of the people. President Wickremesinghe entrusted Minister Manusha Nanayakkara to explain matters further and returned to Colombo to join the UNP May Day rally held in the evening.
Three trains
The President praised UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena for providing facilities to party members to participate in the May Day rally by booking three trains.
UNP General Secretary Range Bandara had to change the agenda of the rally due to the delay in the participation of several speakers in the rally.
The General Secretary had to deliver the welcome address instead of Ravi Karunanayake. The agenda of the rally was approved by Party Leader President Ranil Wickremesinghe when it was presented to him by General Secretary Range Bandara the previous night.
However, according to the agenda, President Wickremesinghe’s speech was the last speech. About half an hour after the rally commenced, the President received a phone call from the Director General of Government Information, Dinith Chinthaka Karunaratne. “The speakers of the main rallies had decided to speak earlier. If the President also speaks earlier, we can catch the news on the evening channels.” After Dinith Chinthaka told him this, President Wickremesinghe spoke to the party’s General Secretary, Deputy Leader, National Organiser and other party leaders about this.
“Sir, my opinion is that the people may leave in the evening because we started the rally half an hour late. I don’t know what the weather would be like. So, Sir, address the rally around 4.20 pm,” General Secretary Range Bandara said.
Accordingly, President Wickremesinghe started speaking after Manusha Nanayakkara instead of the last speech. Although the President spoke earlier, he stayed there until the end of the rally. Before leaving the venue, the President did not fail to engage in conversation with party activists and other members near the stage.
While leaving after the meeting, President Wickremesinghe again spoke to the Director General of Government Information and called for a report on the other May Day rallies in Colombo, and he provided the report within an hour. As such the President was able to get a rough understanding of the May Day rallies.
National Organiser Sagala Ratnayaka walked from Suduwella to the meeting ground along with party members including former Municipal Councillor Kithsiri Rajapaksa.
The group led by Deputy Leader Ruwan Wijewardene, Assistant Leader Akila Viraj Kariyawasam also walked with the people on different routes.
At the end of the rally, Sagala came to know that someone who had come with them was ill and hospitalised. He went to the hospital in the evening to check on the party member’s well-being.
Musical show
At the end of the rally, a musical show was held with the participation of local and foreign singers, which was teeming with youth. It was supposed to end at 12 midnight but it dragged on till 1 am on the request of the youth.
Minister Harin Fernando also sang songs at the musical show. Many young Ministers and organisers also watched the musical show.
President Wickremesinghe went to the office early next morning for the swearing-in of Governors and conferment of titles of honour on senior lawyers.
Earlier, a group of Ministers and officials who met the President spoke about the May Day rallies.
“None of the prominent leaders was seen on the SJB stage. It was noticeable that people such as Talatha Athukorala, Rajitha Senaratne, Rishad Bathiudeen and Rauff Hakeem did not attend. SJB Chairman Sarath Fonseka left before the SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa arrived,” Prof. Ashu Marasinghe started the conversation.
“The JVP had done its best by bringing people to Colombo. It was the same in Matara, Anuradhapura and Jaffna. However, a 75-year-old resident of Bandarawela had died at the JVP Matara rally. It shows that people of Bandarawela were also present at the Matara meeting,” MP Wajira Abeywardena said.
Endorsement of President’s work
“But overall, the UNP rally had the largest number of people who believed in a single person and came to a May Day rally. All these people endorsed what the President had done and will continue to do. Because the party broke up and the organisational strength was low, this massive crowd came,” Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said.
“There is one thing I noticed in general. The participation of women in May Day rallies has decreased. On the other hand, the youth representation was not prominent in any of the May Day rallies,” President Wickremesinghe said.
“Isn’t that why the President spoke for the future of the youth?” Minister Prasanna Ranatunga also joined in the conversation, approving what the President said.
“Even though the youth did not attend the May Day rally, many youth came to see the musical show in the evening. If you look at it like that, only the UNP had youth,” Minister Manusha Nanayakkara said beaming with a smile.
“The SJB had done its best, so had the JVP. But the ‘Pohottuwa’ and the UNP did not show their best. Our people have just started to come out. On the other hand, when all the people who came to the May rallies of ‘Pohottuwa’, UNP and Thondaman’s CWC are added together, it is more than the people who came to the other two parties in Colombo,” MP Madhura Withanage said.
Provincial Governors
During this conversation, the talk about the swearing-in of the North Western Province Governor also came up. At the same time, it was said that there has been opposition to the appointment of a Muslim Governor in the North Western Province.
The people there said that there is nothing wrong with this appointment because there are a large number of Muslims in the Puttalam district. They also said in front of the President that if they think as Sri Lankans and not as Buddhists, Catholics or Muslims, this problem will be resolved.
“Earlier, a Sinhalese was sent to the Northern Province, while a Tamil or Muslim was sent to the Western Province. But we haven’t done that. We have given the governorship and District Secretary post of the North to a Tamil. Similarly, we have appointed a Sinhalese to the Western Province. This appointment is not a single decision of the President and something he did at the request of the Government,” MP Wajira Abeywardena gave a long explanation.
Legal action
Minister Manusha Nanayakkara told the President about several media reports that plantation companies were going to take legal action against the increase in wages of plantation workers.
“So let them take legal action. We stand on the side of the plantation workers and support the case. Make the necessary arrangements for it,” the President advised Minister Manusha Nanayakkara.
MEP Leader Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena visited the Narahenpita Abhayaramaya Temple on Wednesday (May 1) afternoon for a function before proceeding to the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) May Day rally at Campbell Park, Borella.
Before the Premier’s arrival, MEP General Secretary Tissa Yapa came to the temple and had a conversation with Chief Incumbent of Abhayaramaya Temple, Chief Sanghanayake of the Western Province and Chancellor of the Colombo University, Dr. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera.
The Prime Minister came after a while. At the same time, MEP Deputy Secretary MP Yadamini Gunawardena also participated in religious observances and went straight to meet Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Nayaka Thera.
“So, how’s politics? I thought you would come in the morning,” Ven. Ananda Thera said with a smile.
“In the morning, there was a ceremony to commemorate T.B. Ilangaratne,” the Premier said. “This is a trip you come every May Day,” Ven. Ananda Thera said.
“Yes, when May Day was banned in 1987, we celebrated May Day together in this Abhayaramaya Temple. Two of our comrades were shot and killed. So, it is our duty to remember them,” When the Prime Minister said that, Ven. Muruththettuwe Thera got an idea, maybe because he remembered the past. Despite the ban in May 1987, a historic May Day rally was held at the Narahenpita Abhayaramaya Temple under the leadership of Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera, Maha Sangha and MEP Leader Dinesh Gunawardena.
However, Leslie Anandalal Kiribathgoda of the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and Kithsiri Mevan Ranawaka of the Sri Jayewardenepura University were killed when the police opened fire at the May Day rally. They were MEP activists.
“You know your duties, I bless you to serve the country more,” said Ven. Ananda Thera looking at MP Yadamini Gunawardena as well.
Jathika Namal Uyana
The heads of all the major media outlets gathered at the Temple Trees on Tuesday, but not on a political invitation. Founder of the Jathika Namal Uyana, Ven. Wanawasi Rahula Thera, had invited all the print and electronic media heads to Temple Trees to present them awards under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. All the journalists praised Ven. Rahula Thera for his gratitude extended to the media that supported him to develop the Jathika Namal Uyana for many years.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe had also sent a message and it was presented at the ceremony by Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena.
Veteran journalist Edmond Ranasinghe, who has given media space to Ven. Rahula Thera from the beginning, also participated in the event. When Edmond Ranasinghe arrived, Ven. Rahula Thera was delivering his speech. As a result of Ven. Rahula Thera’s sensitivity, remembering the kindness veteran journalist Ranasinghe had shown to him for decades, an emotional situation arose that made it impossible to continue his speech several times. At the end of the ceremony, the Prime Minister approached Edmond Ranasinghe and asked about the well-being of the senior editor.
Another senior journalist who was there told the Prime Minister, “Edmond Ranasinghe has dreamed of making you the Prime Minister even before 1994.” At that time, the Prime Minister respectfully looked at Edmond Ranasinghe and said, “We are from Boralugoda, your mother is from Kadugoda and we are neighbours. We should not forget the service he has rendered to journalism and to the country. He was the one who fought alone for the Sinhalese nation at that time.” Having said that, the Prime Minister bowed slightly and bid farewell to Edmond Ranasinghe.
After the Prime Minister left, the Prime Minister’s son, MP Yadamini Gunawardena came to Edmond Ranasinghe. “During my childhood, my father always asked me to read your editorials. We have learned many things from you and you are a great asset to the city of Seethawaka,” Yadamini said, praising Ranasinghe’s national service. “It’s true, I was born in Puwakpitiya and my mother was from Kadugoda,” said Edmond Ranasinghe.
Hectic week
Last week was a bit hectic because there was a special day in the middle of the week. That special day was the celebration of World May Day.
It is not wrong to say that the Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa and the activists of the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) were very busy last week because the World May Day celebration was important for the upcoming Presidential Election.
The SJB held a historic May Day based on the theme, “A united country and a better tomorrow” and people participated in the May Day rally of the SJB irrespective of race and religion.
The May Day rally of the SJB was successful and SJB General Secretary Ranjith Madduma Bandara and others contributed greatly to its success. Meanwhile, only 25 percent of the party members who came to the May Day rally organised by the SJB at Lower Chatham Street, Colombo Fort came to the venue. The vast majority of the people did not get a chance to come to the venue because of large group of party members who participated in the SJB May Day rally.
The notable feature was that former Chairman of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) Prof. G.L.Peiris , MPs Dilan Perera, Dr. Nalaka Godahewa and Wasantha Yapa Bandara who have joined hands with the ‘Samagi Jana Sanandanaya’ also participated in the SJB May Day rally in Colombo.
SJB May Day parade
The main May Day parade of the SJB started near the A.E. Gunasinghe grounds and the parade travelled along Olcott Mawatha and reached Chatham Street. The people who came from different areas gathered on the Galle Face Green and the Lake House roundabout and reached the main rally venue.
Former MP Mujibur Rahman, in his welcome address said that this is the last May Day rally held under the Ranil Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa and that the next May Day will be held under a SJB Government and even the first salvo was fired at a SJB May Day rally to oust the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
“The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has gone from village to village and collected money to celebrate May Day, how can we build a country where people celebrate May Day by begging? There is no talk about the Rs. 9 billion in their party fund. What the country needs most is a leader who has a vision, loves the country, does not steal and a party with a group of followers. The SJB is that party,” MP Thushara Idunil said.
“The SJB has a talented leader and a team and it will win four elections with a huge margin including the upcoming Presidential Election,” Head of Election Operations of the SJB, Sujeewa Senasinghe said.
MP S.M. Marikkar said that certain sections of the Government attempted to disrupt the SJB May Day rally, but they overcame the challenge with excellence.
MP Nalin Bandara said that UNP General Secretary Palitha Range Bandara said that a group of SJB MPs will join the UNP May Day rally but only artistes from India got on to the UNP stage on May Day.
At the SJB May Day rally, Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa said no political party group has done any work without positions and power. In the 76 years of democracy, the SJB has become number one and if the people think we are honest, accept the SJB manifesto. Opposition Leader Premadasa presented the SJB manifesto to bring about a change in the system which included creating a populist IMF agreement, protect the rights of women and children, setting up anti-corruption institutions, returning stolen assets to the country, converting loss-making entities into profitable organisations, cancel liquor licences given for political gain, appointing a Youth Commission, introducing new technology and new methods to farming, modernising the health system, developing manufacturing industries to create one million entrepreneurs.
NUW May Day rally
The Opposition Leader also joined a May Day rally upcountry. The May rally organised by the National Union of Workers (NUW) led by MP Palani Thigambaram was held at the Thalawakele Urban Council grounds. Opposition Leader Premadasa said in Talawakele that it is a pleasure to celebrate the May Day with the plantation people who earn a lot of dollars for the country. He said that the upcountry estate people are not mere workers and they will be tea smallholders who own lands.
The day after the May Day rally, SJB Parliamentarians gathered at the Opposition Leader’s office, Colombo to hold a press conference about the May Day rally organised by the SJB.
MPs Kavinda Jayawardena, Nalin Bandara, Head of Election Operations Sujeewa Senasinghe and former MP Mujibur Rahman were present.
National list
Following the press conference, MP Nalin Bandara said, “Harin has no place in the political arena. It was Harin who called Sajith, Sajiya. It was Harin who called Ranil, Ranila earlier. Not only that, Harin also called Sajith as ‘Basnayake’. Harin does not know that ‘Basnayake’ is a good position. Harin came to Parliament from the SJB National List, thanks to Sajith Premadasa. Therefore, Harin should keep a picture of Sajith Premadasa at his home and worship him. Harin is not a politician who is elected to Parliament with the people’s mandate.
“Anura Kumara also insulted the Opposition Leader in their May Day rally. Not only that, placards of Rohana Wijeweera , Marx, Lenin, Engels and Mao Zedong’s were not seen in the JVP May Day rally this time. They must have forgotten about it due to their prevailing issues,’’ he said.
Former Parliamentarian Mujibur Rahman said, “The UNP was divided by Harin. Harin said that Ranil is not doing well. Today Sajith is called Sajia just like Ranil was called Ranila. I don’t know what Ranil will say tomorrow. Harin’s true nature has been shown to the country. Harin came to Parliament with the help of the innocent people’s votes given against Rajapaksas and Wickremasinghe. Taking the votes given by the party members, Harin took a National List MP post thanks to Sajith.”
