Preparations for May Day celebrations have been put on hold by many political parties, especially those from the Opposition, as party members are currently busy gearing up for the upcoming Western Provincial Council elections scheduled to be held this week.
The ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will hold its May Day Rally in Bandarawela this year. Minister Susil Premajayantha told The Sunday Times that the rally will be held with the participation of the SLFP’s traditional May Day partners such as the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP).
However, it will not be held as a UPFA rally as some of the constituent parties of the UPFA such as the CWC will not be taking part, he said.
Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge confirmed that the UNP Democratic Group will be joining the Government rally in Bandarawela.
Meanwhile, the main opposition United National Party (UNP)’s Working Committee will meet on Thursday to discuss preparations for May Day celebrations, UNP Media Spokesman and Galle District MP Gayantha Karunatilleke told The Sunday Times.
The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) will hold its rally at Campbell Park in Borella, but will not have its usual May Day parade, JVP Gampaha District MP Vijitha Herath said on Friday.
“We will only be having a rally this year, as there is not enough time after the provincial council election to prepare for a parade. We tried to obtain the Colombo Municipal Council grounds for the rally, but it did not work out,” he said.
A theme for the rally had not yet been discussed at the time, he added.
The Democratic Left Front (DLF) led by Vasudeva Nanayakkara will be teaming up with four other political parties including the Sri Lanka Communist Party that form the Socialist Alliance.
“Our May Day theme this year is ‘let us be determined to protect the rights of the labour community in the face of the ongoing global economic meltdown’,” said Mr. Nanayakkara.
The Socialist Alliance’s parade will commence from the Ayurveda Junction in Borella and end at the Vihara Maha Devi Park, Colombo where the alliance’s rally will be held, he added. |
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