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| Sunday, 27 April 2003 |
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May Day events UNP opts for culture carnival BY DON ASOKA WIJEWARDENA May Day, traditionally celebrated with vociferous parades, rallies and a showcasing of workers' might, will see a deviation this year, with the United National Party (UNP) opting for a cultural celebration in a carnival atmosphere, the LSSP, CP, PA joining to focus on ethnic and economic issues and non-political trade unions concentrating on peace. Minister of Employment and Labour Mahinda Samarasinghe at a media conference held at his ministry said that a pay hike may be announced on May 1. He said that the UNP will pay "Tribute to the Working Class" with a grand celebration at the Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) premises commencing 10.00 a.m. The celebratory events will include educational, entertainment and other worker-related programmes organised by the Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Education and Cultural Affairs. A committee comprising the Minister of the Interior and Christian Affairs John Amaratunga, Minister of Tourism Gamini Lokuge, Minister of Education and Cultural Affairs Dr. Karunasena Kodithuwakku, Minister of Employment and Labour Mahinda Samarasinghe and Colombo Deputy Mayor Assad Salley has been set up to organise the activities. Minister John Amaratunge said that on a directive of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, it was decided to hold May Day 2003 on a grand scale with musical, cultural, educational and entertainment programmes with a special emphasis on paying tribute to the workers. A special feature of the celebrations will be the 300 trade stalls with different commodities selling items at production cost. There will also be a kiddies carnival at Singithi Uyana at the Viharamahadevi Park free of charge to all children, with flower exhibitions, art competitions and a special musical show with popular radio artistes from 2.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. Minister Samarasinghe stated that some important biographies of late labour leaders will be displayed free of charge at the Public Library auditorium. When asked about security and transport facilities to people thronging Colombo, Minister John Amaratunga said that IGP T. E. Anandarajah with his senior DIGs had already made necessary arrangements to protect people participating both in Opposition May Day rallies and UNP celebrations. Regarding transport, he said that the CTB, CGR and private bus companies would provide additional services for the convenience of about four lakhs of people expected to see the celebrations. Dr. Karunasena Kodithuwakku said that in addition to cultural programmes organised by his ministry, a musical show with four Indian artistes such as Anuradha Shri Ram, Karthik and world's best drummer Sivamani organised by MTV/MBC will be telecast on Sirasa TV and broadcast on Sirasa FM radio. JVP rally A number of left wing dignitaries from India, Cuba, China, North-Korea, Japan and several other countries will attend the JVP May Day rally, which according to its spokesman, will be a truly red grand affair. The Red May rally to be held at the BRC grounds, Colombo will have a demonstration under the theme "Let's build a people's power to defeat the division of the motherland, plunder of national resources, pruning of workers' rights, recolonialism of the imperialists and win over national independence and genuine peace!" The demonstration will commence from S.S. de Jayasinghe grounds at 12.00 noon and lead to the BRC grounds where the rally will be held from 4.00 pm onwards. (DPL) Leftist rallies The May Day processions of the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) headed by Batty Weerakoon and comprising its trade unions and the Communist Party (CP) led by Dew Gunasakera will join the People's Alliance May Day rally at Campbell Park at 2.30 p.m. The PA rally will begin at the Kotte UC grounds with the LSSP rally starting near Dr. N. M. Perera's statue at Borella. Batty Weerakoon told the "Sunday Observer" that the leftist May Day rallies would reflect on the present burning issues such as the ethnic conflict and the economic problems which had been affecting the people. May Day worker's mass The Christian Workers' Fellowship (CWF) will celebrate its May Day Workers' Mass this year at Stanley Jansz Playgrounds, Alwis Place, Polwatte, Colombo 3 at 9.00 a.m. preceded by a procession from the Perahera Mawatha at 8.30 a.m. This will be the 45th celebration of this Mass, which has been held without interruption since 1959. "Solidarity of the working people" and "A Genuine Peace with Justice and Human Rights to end the Ethnic Conflict" will be the special intention of the Mass this year. As in past years, clergy from the mainline churches - Roman Catholic, Anglican and Protestant - will join in the concelebration of the Mass led by Bishop Kumara Illangasinghe, Bishop of Kurunegala, and backed by a strong lay response. It is usual for clergy of other religions to be present at this service which also includes prominent figures in the trade union and workers' movement. Non-political rally The National Workers' Congress (NWC) and the All Ceylon Federation of Free Trade Unions (ACFFTU) will hold their May Day rally at their Workers' Centre, Dehiwela, on May 1 at 10.00 a.m. The theme of this year's meeting will be "Peace through Unity of Workers". Workers from the plantations, agriculture, white collar, free trade zones, coconut and fibre mills, fisheries, teachers, private transport and other sectors of employment will also participate. |
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