Rallies and May Day marches organised across the island

Labourers worldwide mark the 140th International Workers' Day tomorrow (01). Political parties and trade unions completed all preparations to hold commemorations, processions, and rallies in Colombo and several other areas across the island.

National People's Power organised rallies covering 21 districts under the theme 'People's Power for a People's Republic'. These events are scheduled at the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council Grounds with the participation of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and in front of the Maharagama Youth Services Council tomorrow afternoon.

Samagi Jana Balawegaya holds its May Day rally at the P.D. Sirisena Grounds in Maligawatta under the theme 'Thieves are enough alongside lies'. The event begins tomorrow at 2:00 PM. Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa visited the P.D. Sirisena Grounds this morning to supervise the final preparations.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party rally takes place at Campbell Park in Borella under the theme 'People's power against the corrupt government'. Key representatives and party members are expected to attend.

Sarwajana Balaya organised its meeting at the Henry Pedris Grounds in Colombo 05, themed 'May meeting for a developed Sri Lanka'. The rally starts tomorrow at 10:00 AM.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna will not hold a May Day rally this year, dedicating the day to religious observances instead. Following a floral tribute to the statue of T.B. Ilangaratne led by former President Mahinda Rajapaksa at 8:00 AM tomorrow, religious programmes will be conducted in all constituencies. An all-night Pirith chanting ceremony is also scheduled at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya.

The Frontline Socialist Party holds its event at Hyde Park in Maradana under the theme 'A working people's power against the government dancing to imperialist savagery'. The Communist Party of Sri Lanka holds its rally at the party headquarters in Borella under the theme 'Let's build people's power for economic sovereignty'.

A special traffic plan operates around Colombo tomorrow due to these gatherings. For the National People's Power rally in Maharagama, all vehicles entering Colombo from Homagama must turn left at the Maharagama clock tower towards Boralasgamuwa junction and proceed via Kohuwala. Heavy vehicles from Homagama should travel through Pannipitiya junction towards Thalawathugoda and enter Colombo via Rajagiriya.

Police stated that if traffic congestion becomes excessive, vehicles will be blocked from entering the High-Level Road at Panagoda junction and diverted to the Low-Level Road.

For those leaving Colombo, vehicles travelling from Borella towards Maharagama must turn right at Delkanda junction, proceeding through Ratnapitiya and Boralasgamuwa to reach the Maharagama clock tower. Heavy vehicles exiting Colombo should travel under the Nugegoda flyover to Kohuwala, then through Boralasgamuwa to the Maharagama clock tower towards Homagama.