“We asked for the Galle Face grounds because lakhs of people are coming today to celebrate May Day. But Ranil Wickramasinghe opposed it,” said General Secretary of the JVP Tilvin Silva. \
Speaking to the media he said, “Galle Face that is not provided for the workers was used by Ranil Wickramasingha’s government some time ago on May Day. They even brought Indian singers for the event,” he alleged.
The Secretary of the JVP also said, “Our aim on May Day is to guide the Sri Lankan people along a new path to a new society”.
“The JVP has made all arrangements to hold a massive rally and parade in Colombo today (1st) for the International Workers’ Day. A large number of working people, farmers, fishermen, youth, students and women are rallying for this across the country.
They gather around the JVP to show the power of the oppressed, working people. The May parade and rally will be held under the theme “Let’s defeat the oppressive and corrupt regime that sells the country and build a poples’ government”.
The existing corrupt and fraudulent regime is trying to continue the rule for a while by selling the last resources of the country, oppressing the people and betraying the country. We celebrate May Day with this theme with the aim of defeating that attempt and mobilizing the people to build a people’s government.
None of them could hold a rally on May Day, so, Galle Face was prevented from being given to the JVP rally. For this reason, we have reserved the path between Viharamaha Devi Park and the Municipal Council to hold the May Rally. The parade will commence from B.R.C. grounds at 2.00 p.m. and the May Rally will be held at 4:00 PM.
The whole country is preparing for this. If the government tried to undermine our rally by not giving us enough space, we will hold it somewhere suitable. The ruling groups in history made the May Day a Tamasha and distorted the meaning of this day. Throughout the history of the JVP, the May Day parade and rally have been held in the true meaning and respect of May Day. A similar parade and rally will be held this time as well.”
