Today, May 01, marks the 138th International Labor Day, with a focus this year on ensuring safety and health at work amidst a changing climate.
The Sri Lankan working community has organized rallies and demonstrations to celebrate May Day, in solidarity with the international labor community. In Colombo alone, 14 May Day parades and rallies are scheduled to take place, with approximately 40 events planned across Sri Lanka.
President Ranil Wickremesinghe is set to lead the United National Party’s (UNP) May Day Rally under the theme, “යළි නොවැටෙන අභිමානවත් රටක්, සෑම කලට”, starting from opposite the Maligawatta Police in Colombo. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna will celebrate May Day at Campbell Park in Colombo, with the “Podujana May Rally” led by Leader of the SLPP Mahinda Rajapaksa.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya will commemorate International Labour Day under the auspices of Leader of the SJB and Opposition Sajith Premadasa, with their rally to be held in Chatham Street under the theme “සමගි රටක්, අනගි හෙටක්”.
The National People’s Power has planned May Day celebrations at four locations across Sri Lanka, with the theme “රට හදන විසඳුමට, ජන බලය එක පෙලට”.
Maithripala Sirisena along with a group from the Sri Lanka Freedom Party will organize a May Day rally at the Municipal Grounds in Gampaha under the theme ” රට රකින ජන පවුර”.
The Frontline Socialist Party is preparing to hold its May Day rally at Hyde Park grounds in Colombo, while the May Day Rally organized by the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) will be held at the Kotagala Public Grounds.
Additionally, a May Day rally by the Uttara Lanka Sabhagaya will take place at 2.00 PM at the Lalith Athulathmudali Grounds in Kirulapone, and the Sri Lanka Sama Samaja Party will hold its May Day rally at the Ananda Samarakoon Open Air Theatre in Nugegoda.
