Hyde Park to Galle Face and NPP’s backtracking on decisions

The ruling National People’s Power (NPP) will hold its May Day rally at Galle Face Green this year, despite an earlier decision to desist from using the landmark Colombo site for political activities.  

In a Cabinet decision taken in November last year, it was decided not to grant permission to use the Galle Face Green for activities other than religious purposes and develop it to be used as a place of recreation for local and foreign tourists as well as for the conduct of festive events, musical shows and other festivities, which people can participate freely.

This was with the aim of recovering the administrative and maintenance cost of the Galle Face Green which is approximately Rs. 2.5 to 3 million per month. Galle Face Green comes under the management and administration of Sri Lanka Port Management and Consultancy Services Ltd., a subsidiary company of the Sri Lanka Ports Authority.

Seven months later the Government seems to have forgotten its own Cabinet decision and now plans to have its May Day rally at Galle Face, the location of choice of all ruling parties in the country. Galle Face is the icing on the cake where May Day rallies are concerned and the ability to fill up at least half the grounds is a sign of the political prowess of a party. “We will fill up Galle Face ground,” is often the boast of many a political party and for the JVP-led NPP, this will be a dream come true given they are now in a position to pick a venue of their choice rather than depend of others to hand them a ground for the meeting. It’s certainly a big deal for the JVP, this graduation from Hyde Park Corner to Galle Face and people can expect an extra showing by the red brigade of the JVP marching to the old slogans on workers’ rights.

Galle Face was the site of the Aragalaya of 2022 of which much has been written and talked about. The JVP was not an active part of the Aragalaya but definitely the biggest beneficiary of it. Whether the JVP/NPP will spare a thought for many who took to the streets in protest against the Gotabaya Rajapaksa Government is yet to be seen but maybe no mention will be made given that the current President Anura Kumara Disanayake and several seniors in the JVP were among those who had to flee the Aragalaya site when some angry protestors turned on them.

International Workers Day or May Day celebrations this year come a week ahead of the Local Government elections. This along with the recently concluded exposition of the Sacred Tooth Relic in Kandy no doubt will be beneficial to the Government’s election campaign. These are the bonuses of being in government and one should not grudge the NPP given that all political parties resort to such tactics to win over voters.

Given the weaknesses in the main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) and the lack of support for the other Opposition parties such as the SLPP and the UNP, the ruling party can look forward to a comfortable victory in the upcoming elections even though voter turnout is likely to be low. This in no way means the public is enthralled with the new Government but compared to the Opposition, the Government certainly cuts a better figure.

But like all those who have political power, the Government too is slowly slipping into the bad habits of its predecessors. Going back on promises is one such tactic as is evident from using Galle Face Green for a political rally. There are many more such instances and they will continue to pile up as the months drag on. For now, the Government has little challenge to its authority. However, it needs to be cautious about taking the public for granted.