Colombo, May 1—Political parties and trade union organizations in Sri Lanka today celebrated Workers’ Day with various events, including demonstrations and processions organized in cities across the country.
The United National Party (UNP) May Day rally was held in front of the Maligawatte police in Colombo, led by President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
The president also participated in other rallies for the anniversary in this capital, reported the Media Division of his office.
In a message for Labor Day, the head of state extended an invitation to all political parties to unite to chart a path towards a prosperous future for the nation.
“Instead of a conventional May Day celebration, let us take this opportunity to forge consensus, recognizing contemporary trends and challenges,” he said.
The first May Day demonstration in Sri Lanka was held in 1933 under the leadership of AE Gunasinghe, who formed the Labor Party to ensure the rights of the working class.
Workers’ Day was declared an official holiday in the South Asian nation in 1956 under the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna government, headed by former prime minister SWRD Bandaranaike.
To guarantee the security of the day, the police announced the implementation of measures such as the deployment of 10,000 officers.
Similarly, special traffic plans were established within the city of Colombo.
