10,000-strong Police force for May Day

The Sri Lanka Police is to deploy over 10,000 Policemen to provide security in the areas where the May Day rallies and demonstrations are to be held today, Police Media Spokesman Superintendent of Police Ajith Rohana has said.

The Police Spokesman has said 8,000 personnel would be deployed in Colombo and 2,000 would be deployed in Jaffna and the Policemen would be in both civvies and uniforms.

He has noted that the Policemen would be deployed to provide security for the people participating in May Day celebrations and to carry out the traffic plans that have been put in place.

Major May Day rallies and demonstrations are to be held in Colombo and Jaffna.

The Government has ordered the liquor shops to be closed on 1 May in the areas where the May Day functions are held. The military will also be on alert to be called in case of an emergency.

According to SP Rohana, a special traffic plan is to be put in place from around noon today when the May Day processions commence in most areas in Colombo. Several roads entering Colombo are to be closed to limit the traffic in the city and the motorists are advised to avoid entering Colombo City.

The Police have informed the media that the May Day rally of the governing United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) is to be held at Town Hall in Colombo.

The parades of UPFA constituent parties will commence from different locations in the city and proceed to the Town Hall.

Main constituent Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) parade is to commence from Campbell Park while the National Freedom Front (NFF) parade will begin from Ayurvedic Roundabout. The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna (MEP) parade is to start from near Narahenpita Abayaramaya Temple.

Accordingly, the Baseline Road (Dematagoda Junction to Borella Junction and Cemetery Junction to Mahawatta Junction), Maradana Road (Borella to Maradana Junction), Deans Road-Kannangara Mawatha, Ward Place-Lipton Circus Roundabout, Ayurvedic Roundabout-Castle Street and Cemetery Road-Thimbirigasyaya Road will either be completely closed for vehicle travel from 12 noon onwards.

The Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) parade will travel from Saranankara Road to BRC Ground, where their May Day rally is being held.

Police have said that Saranankara Road-Pamankada Road, Stratford Avenue and High Level Road (Kirulapana to Dickmans Road) will be closed from 12 noon.

The commemoration of Late President R. Premadasa will be held near his Memorial Statue in Hulftsdorp (Aluth Kade) while the parade will begin from near Sugathadasa Stadium.

Accordingly, Sirimavo Bandaranaike Mawatha, Jethawana Road, Armour Barber Junction, Sumanatissa Mawatha, Sangaraja Roundabout, Sangaraja Mawatha, Technical College Junction, Mihindu Mawatha and Court Road will be closed from 12 noon.

The major opposition United National Party (UNP) joins with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) to hold the May Day rally in Jaffna. Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP), a Government coalition party, also holds May Day in Jaffna.