News
Disparate opposition desperate for a rallying cry
Political parties and trade unions have come out with mixed plans for May Day celebrations, as the international workers’ day coincides with Vesak Poya Day.
Some political parties and unions have curtailed events, but other opposition parties are eager to use the opportunity to expose government shortcomings, failed promises and corruption.
The ruling National People’s Power government will mark May Day with 21 rallies across the country, instead of having a single event.
Deputy Labour Minister Mahinda Jayasinghe said the party will hold two events in Jaffna and Vavuniya in the Northern Province, and plans are afoot to hold rallies in Badulla and Nuwara Eliya.
He said the Colombo district event would be held at Maharagama, while the Gampaha district event would be at Kadawatha.
The main opposition, Samagi Jana Balawegaya, views May Day as an event to expose the corruption and shortcomings of the government.
SJB National Organiser Tissa Attanayake said people are disappointed with the government because of shortcomings and corruption.
“It may need six months or a year for the people to fully turn against the government. With the ongoing issues, they have already understood the incapability of the government.”
The Frontline Socialist Party is preparing for celebrations under the theme “A working people’s power against a government which dances to the tune of imperialist savagery”. Pix by Priyanka Samaraweera
Harping on the corruption allegations levelled at the government and the ‘false promises’, the SJB had taken the theme “Pacha Madiwata Horu” (thieves in addition to lies) for their rally at the P.D. Sirisena Ground in Colombo. Mr Attanayake said that only the rally would be held at 1 pm, taking the Poya Day into account.
The SJB had prepared invitations to alliance parties. Apart from that, invitations had been scheduled to be sent to the United National Party (UNP) on Wednesday.
Mr Attanayake said the SJB-UNP talks on a merger are ongoing and are handled by the party leader Sajith Premadasa himself.
The SJB is also having discussions with other political parties to form a powerful alliance.
The UNP had decided to felicitate 250 senior workers of the Jathika Sewaka Sangamaya (JSS), the party’s trade union wing. The event would be held at the JSS headquarters on May 1. The party would also hold a biryani almsgiving (dana) with the sponsorship of the JSS-run Buhari Hotel on April 30, the day prior to May Day.
Akila Viraj Kariyawasam, the party’s assistant leader, said that the UNP believes in merging with the SJB to form a stronger power in the future. The way forward should be together, and talks will be held in the future.
By Thursday, the UNP had not yet received an invitation to the SJB May Day event.
The UNP believed that the people’s perception of the government had changed over the course of two years, Mr Kariyawasam said, adding that promises have become a burden to the government.
He said that though the NPP have numbers in parliament, the perception of the general public has started to change against them.
The Sri Lanka Podu Jana Peramuna party strongly believes that May 1 is Vesak Day, even though the government shifted the day to May 30.
SLPP’s General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam said religious programmes will be held in electorates as the workers’ day falls on Vesak Poya.
The party also has plans to hold a large-scale rally on May 22 to mark Republic Day (Jana Raja Dinaya) at Hyde Park Corner. But this is yet to be confirmed due to fuel limitations.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party has emerged from internal disputes with most court cases filed against key position holders. A fresh start is expected.
The party’s senior vice president, Mahinda Amaraweera, said an event is planned at Campbell Park and he is expecting a crowd of about 10,000.
The court cases are getting resolved, but he said he believed the May Day event—to be attended by the party’s president, Nimal Siripala de Silva, acting general secretary, Duminda Dissanayake and Lasantha Alagiyawanna—will mark the renewal of the party.
The Frontline Socialist Party is preparing for celebrations under the theme “A working people’s power against a government which dances to the tune of imperialist savagery”.
The publicity secretary of the party, Pubudu Jagoda, said celebrations begin with a procession from Maligakanda to Hyde Park at 1:00 pm. The rally is at 3:00 pm. There will also be a cultural show.
Tamil Progressive Alliance leader Mano Ganesan said he would take part in the SJB rally in Colombo. The TPA will hold separate events in the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces for estate workers.
Pivithuru Hela Urumaya leader Udaya Gammanpila said celebrations will not be held in view of Poya Day. He said that although people have high IQs, the education system has only rewarded memory-based learning, compromising the ability of rational thinking, and explained that this has caused people to be deceived by politicians. People take longer to realise that they have been lied to.
Upcountry Workers Union president and Upcountry People’s Front leader V. Radhakrishnan said the union will not have a May Day celebration taking into account the economic hardships faced by upcountry workers.
He added that even though they do not have a separate event they would participate in the main opposition rally.
Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) will hold three May Day rallies. The northern rally will be held at Mankulam, while the other two are in Trincomalee and Batticaloa.
ITAK General Secretary M.A. Sumanthiran said people of the north too are displeased over the conduct of the government.
He said the government which came to power to do away with corruption is stuttering when asked about its actions.
“It is beset by the coal issue, asset issues of key members of the government, and corruption allegations hurled at the energy minister. Those who came to eliminate corruption have failed, shattering their first promise to the people.
He said those who promised solutions to the national issue in a year now do not mention it.
Lal Stevan, secretary of the May Day Committee of the Samajwadi Janatha Peramuna (Socialist Alliance), said that the Communist Party, Lanka Sama Samaja Party, Democratic Left Front and Mahajana Party would celebrate May Day at the Communist Party head office.
The May Day procession would begin from Rajagiriya Ayurveda Junction and move through Borella Junction and return to the Communist Party head office.
The CWC said it is holding discussions on May Day programmes.
The Sarwa Jana Balaya Party said it has planned a rally at Park Avenue in Borella at 10:00 am under the theme “May Day meeting for a developed Sri Lanka” (Diunu Sri Lankawak wenuwen May hamuwa).
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