May Day events on another day?

Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: This year's May Day celebrations are likely to be held on a day other than May 1 in view of the Vesak festival which falls on the International Labour Day.

Labour Relations and Foreign Employment Minister Athauda Seneviratne told the Daily News that the Cabinet which met on Thursday approved a memorandum declaring it inappropriate to hold May Day celebrations on Vesak day.

"According to this year's calendar, both the Vesak festival and the International Labour Day fall on May 1. Since Vesak is the principal religious festival of a majority of Sri Lankans we thought it inappropriate to hold May Day celebrations on the same day," he said.

Seneviratne said the issue was also taken up by members of the National Labour Advisory Board when the Board met recently.

"At the meeting it was decided to permit trade unions to either hold May Day celebrations on a day other than May 1 or have the celebrations on the same day on a low key without affecting the spirit of Vesak".