16 rallies for May Day

The United People’s Freedom Alliance is preparing to mark May Day today with the working masses on a grand scale. More than one million people are expected to participate in the UPFA May Day Rally representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and other alliance parties.

The procession will start from the Nelum Pokuna Mawatha at 12 noon and proceed through Horton Place and D.S. Senanayake junction and arrive at Campbell Park via Baseline Road, Borella. The rally will start at 3 p.m. under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Governor of Western Province Alavi Mowlana said the President as a trade union leader was ready to grant more concessions for the welfare of the working masses.

The United National Party will hold its May Day functions at three locations. May Day functions for the people of Colombo and Kalutara Districts will be held at the Party Headquarters Sirikotha this morning. The May Day function of the Youth Front of the party will be held in Badulla and the main function together with the combined Opposition will be held in Kurunegala.

The National Freedom Front will start their procession from near St. John’s College Dematagoda and the rally will be held at P.G. Sirisena Grounds under the leadership of Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

16 rallies...

The Left Parties will hold their rally at the Lalith Athulathmudali ground at Kirulapone.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna will start its procession from the S. De S. Jayasinghe grounds and the rally will be held at the BRC Grounds in Dehiwala.

Several rallies will be held in the upcountry in Talawakele and Nuwara Eliya.

The Police has have finalised all arrangements to ensure the conduct of May Day rallies smoothly. Senior DIG Anura Senanayake said 24 May Day rallies and processions have been organised and 16 of them will be held in Colombo.

A total of 6,000 Police officers will be deployed to ensure security and control traffic. It is expected that around 600,000 will attend this year’s May Day rallies. All measures have been taken to ensure the security of the public.

Drivers are requested to use alternative roads to avert temporary traffic congestion. Essential services such as transporting passengers to the airport and patients to hospitals will be facilitated.

It is expected that about 10,000 buses will bring May Day participants to Colombo from the outstations. All arrangements have been made to ensure the security of participants coming from the outstations, while 172 motorcycle traffic units will also be in operation.