“Twenty public meetings. Seventeen rallies.” This was how a leading Tamil daily in Sri Lanka presented a report on the planned events for the May Day. In the capital city, Prime Minister and the ruling United National Party (UNP) chief Ranil Wickremesinghe told a rally that his government would ensure that benefits of development reached people.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in another rally organised by the “Joint Opposition”, complained that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was sought to be destroyed by aligning with the UNP. In Galle, President Maithripala Sirisena emphasised the need for finding a solution to the Tamil question.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Sri Lanka was ahead of India in launching economic liberalisation by 12 or 13 years. Yet, all political parties in the island-nation continue to attach importance to May Day.
Tracing the evolution of the May Day rallies, K.K.S. Perera, columnist, said originally, the Left and trade unions organised the events. The SLFP, on coming to power in 1956, declared a public holiday for the May Day and subsequently, the UNP, considered a pro-business party, too started holding events.
Alluding to a huge May Day rally addressed by J. R. Jayawardene in 1977, a couple of months before he became Prime Minister, Mano Ganesan, Minister of National Dialogue and TPA leader, said there were instances of the May Day rallies bringing about political changes in the country.
ADVERTISEMENT
Uday Gammanpila, leader of the Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU), a constituent of the “Joint Opposition”, pointed out that it was also an occasion for demonstrating political might of the parties.