Eleven rallies have been organized by political parties and trade unions in several parts of the island today (May 01st) to mark International Labour Day.
This year will be without any processions by the government and main opposition parties in view of the insecure situation in the country and their giving priority to the forthcoming polls for the Eastern Provincial Council.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa will lead the PA’s rally at the Mahaweli Grounds in Dehiattakandiya, starting at 2.00 pm.
SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena has told the media that the venue in Ampara district has been chosen as a mark of gratitude to the people of the east for their support towards the liberation of the province from the LTTE.
The UNP will hold no rally or procession, and instead mark May Day with religious observances.
Party leader Ranil Wickremesinghe was due to attend the Buddhist religious event at Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara at 9.00 am.
The JVP’s rally will begin at the Colombo Municipal Grounds under the patronage of its leader Somawansa Amarasinghe at 2.00 pm.
This will be followed by a cultural programme.
Arumugam Thondaman will chair the CWC’s rally at Hatton town.The party’s May Day procession was expected to start from Walliyappu Junction in Hatton at 10.00 am.
A combined function at Kirulapone Grounds at 3.00 pm will mark the May Day rally of the Communist Party, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party, the Democratic Left Front and the Socialist People’s Front.Their procession will commence from Shalika Hall in Narahenpita at 1.00 pm.
In Bogawantalawa, the Western People’s Front was due to hold its May Day rally at 10.00 am under the patronage of party leader Mano Ganeshan.
The United Socialist Party’s rally was scheduled for 10.00 am at the Jayantha Wijesekara Mawatha Community Hall in Colombo 10.
The Jathika Jeewana Peramuna will have its rally at the old Town Hall in Colombo Pettah at 1.00 pm under the theme ‘Let’s eliminate terrorism & build national unity.’
The Combined State and Private Trade Unions Federation is organizing a procession from Colombo Fort Railway Station at 1.00 pm which will culminate at P.C. Sirisena Grounds at Maligawatte where a rally takes place at 4.00 pm.
The Bank of Ceylon Employees Union, the Ceylon Mercantile Union, the United Labour Union, the Sri Lanka Republican Health
Services Union and the Movement Against Media Repression will hold a joint May Day rally at Hyde Park in Colombo, starting at 3.30 pm after a procession.
The July Strikers Combined Union held its rally at the Public Library auditorium in Colombo at 9.00 am.
The Government Clerical Services Union’s rally was due to take place at its headquarters in Colombo 02, while the Ceylon Teachers Union is holding its May Day event in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Union at 12.30 pm.
The Lanka Services Union was due to start a procession in Kandy at 10.00 am, while the Christian Labour Solidarity was due to have a prayer session at St. Michael Church at Polwatte in Colombo at 9.00 am to mark International Labour Day.
The Ceylon Labour Union was due to hold an event in front of A.E. Goonesinha Statue at Colombo Pettah at 10.00 am
