UPFA May Day Rally on ‘Peace and Development’ theme

Rohan Mathes

COLOMBO: A colourful UPFA May Day rally under the theme, “Work-Develop the Country-Move Forward in Peace”, will be held at the Colombo Town Hall Grounds on April 30 at 3 pm, with President Mahinda Rajapaksa presiding.

The long-awaited SLFP set of proposals based on the devolution of power, and formulated to address the ethnic issue, will also be announced at this May Day rally by President Rajapaksa, SLFP General Secretary and Minister of Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Maithripala Sirisena said.

Sirisena noted that the proposals to be announced will only be a draft report and would be subject to amendment if deemed necessary, when it comes up for discussion at the APRC level. “It would be based on maximum devolution of power,” he said.

He said in the May Day celebrations, the Government will take into consideration the present security situation and the economic well-being of the country. “We will transform this event to an opportunity whereby we would honour and bestow our blessings upon the valiant soldiers and to become further committed to the ideals of economic development,” Sirisena added.

The Minister said Vesak Poya day coincided with World May Day after 40 years, and therefore they had no other alternative but to urge Trade Union representatives and political parties to shift May Day celebrations to April 30.

He said that the rally commencing from the Dr. N.M. Perera statue in Rajagiriya will pass via Sri Jayawardenapura road, D.S. Senanayake junction, Horton Place, via Alexandra Roundabout, will reach the Colombo Town Hall Grounds. The UPFA leaders, Ministers, Trade Union Representatives are expected to address the rally there.

The Chairman of the United May Day Committee and Transport Minister Dallas Alahapperuma was of the view that it was most opportune to make this May day celebrations, a day of ‘National Resolve’ (Jathika Adhistanaya) in dauntlessly confronting the multi-faceted challenges faced by the nation in an era where its territorial integrity and sovereignty are threatened by local and international reactionary forces.

“The May Day celebrations may even turn out to be an event of our celebration of ‘Cricket World Cup’ victory in Barbados,” he said.

Minister Alahapperuma also said that special transport arrangements will be made. Special security arrangements and precautions too will be taken on this day.