Political parties will hold rallies across the island today to mark International Workers’ Day, which falls on May 1.

Celebrations for International Workers’ Day were postponed to May 7 by the government, to avoid conflict with Vesak which fell on May 29th, 30th.

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will hold its May Day rally in Batticaloa under the theme ‘Promoting Reconciliation and Inter-Communal Harmony’. President Maithripala Sirisena is expected to attend.

The United National Party (UNP) held its May Day rally at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo yesterday, under the theme ‘New life for a matured leadership’. Party leader Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe attended.

The ‘Joint Opposition’ will conduct its May Day rally in Galle under the patronage of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and plan to use the day to protest government moves to sell national resources, rising inflation and political victimisation,

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) held its May Day rally on May 1 in Jaffna, but will hold a second rally in Colombo today, which will begin at Campbell Park and end at the BRC grounds.

The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) plans to hold its May Day rally in Colombo, starting at the Colombo Public Library and ending at the Colombo New Town Hall.

Meanwhile, the majority of trade unions held their rallies on May 1, in defience of government order to move demonstrations to May 7.