Rally for the return ofMR
The “Wedakarana Janatha Eksath” (United Working People) May Day Rally, organised by 15 political parties and 36 trade unions including the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (People’s United Front- MEP), Jathika Nidahas Peramuna (National Freedom Front) and the Vamaansika Peramuna (Leftist Front), was held on Friday, May 1 at the Lalith Athulathmudali Ground, Kirulapone.
The procession began at Polhengoda junction at 2 pm and reached Kirulapone three hours later.
Conspicuous in the parade were posters of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Notable personalities in the procession were Dinesh Gunawardena, Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Wimal Weerawansa and Tissa Vitharana.
At the meeting following the rally, MP Salinda Dissanayake read a goodwill message sent by former president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Speaking on the occasion, Wimal Weerawansa berated the present Government.
"All those who were against the war are today in the government. Maithripala Sirisena and Ranil Wickremesinghe are but Indian puppets. We must bring back Mahinda Rajapaksa. It was he who ended the war; increased the number of government servants to 1,500,000 and rid the country of unem- ployment. The day will come soon when Mahinda Rajapaksa's flag will be seen around the country." Dinesh Gunawardena said: "Each time the UNP came to power, what they did was to deprive the working class of even the few benefits they possessed. Hundreds of thousands of working people were thrown out of employment by this government. During the '100 Days' 225,000 people lost their employment.I am sorry for the SLFP. Their ill-attended May Day rally ended today an hour ago at Hyde Park. What went wrong with them? The answer is obvious; they joined hands with the UNP.
We entreat our SLFP MPs to find the right path at least now."
Among the MPs present that evening were, Janaka Priyantha Bandara, Sarath Kumara Gunaratne, Gamini Lokuge, Prabha Ganeshan, Salinda Dissanayake, Kumara Welgama, Chandrasiri Gajadeera, Mahindananda Aluthgamage and Shriyani Wijewickrema.