Outside conspiracies will not be allowed – Mahinda

•  Says that unity of working people essential for development
• Anoma Fonseka joins Sajith in rally
• TNA and UNP join forces to demand political solution

By Uditha Jayasinghe  

Outside conspiracies would be not allowed to break the unity of the working people under the guise of human rights, President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday told hundreds of thousands of people gathered at the main Government May Day rally.

Dozens of busses in distinctive CTB red colours ferried thousands of people to United People’s Freedom Alliance’s (UPFA) main rally at Town Hall. Main roads in Colombo were blocked as both JVP and UPFA supporters converged at nerve centres blocking traffic and causing hardship for the public who had to work on May Day or those trying to get home.

“The unity of working people is essential to rebuild this nation. I am confident that you will not deviate from this task and I promise that no outside influences will de-rail the intentions of this Government with talk over human rights,” he said to a packed ground that responded with cheers and waving photos of the President.  

President Rajapaksa referring to the United National Party (UNP), called on them to remember who freed the north for them to hold rallies and have “leisure trips.” Other parties of the UPFA reiterated their support to maintain a united Sri Lanka.  

Both parties wearing distinctive blue and red t-shirts and caps flooded the streets carrying placards and shouting slogans while others danced to papare bands. A good turnout was seen at these rallies with key political figures weighing in to make the most impact. The UPFA saw a division of forces with President Rajapaksa addressing the Town Hall gathering while his brother Economic Minister Basil Rajapaksa attended the CWC rally in Nuwara Eliya.

A range of messages were delivered to the Government at opposition May Day rallies that called for the release of former Army Commander Sarath Fonseka, a political solution to the ethnic issue and overall economic relief for workers.

Making his mark on this intense day UNP MP Sajith Premadasa’s faction held a commemoration rally for late President Premadasa that included laying floral tributes at his statue by his wife and other family members.  Interestingly Anoma Fonseka, the jailed army commander’s wife, also attended the ceremony where Sajith Premadasa criticised the Government for continuing to hold Fonseka.

“Sarath Fonseka must be released unconditionally,” Premadasa insisted, adding that while Sri Lanka was celebrating the defeat of terrorism after 30 years of war, the country was yet to experience the fruits of peace.  

He also pledged to rebuild the UNP and create a turnaround from the successive election defeats by following the ‘Premadasa Chinthanaya’ founded by his father.  

Premadasa and UNP leader Ranil Wickremesinghe both joined the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) in demanding a political solution through power devolution in their addresses with the latter delivering his at a rally in Jaffna co-organised with the TNA.  “The war is over now and it is enough that the people have suffered. They need a solution to their problems,” Wickremesinghe said. His statements were echoed by TNA leader R. Sampanthan who insisted that the Opposition has the power to win minority rights.

“We have had numerous talks with the Government to win our rights but there has been no positive response,” he stressed.

Speakers at the Jaffna rally also touched on the need to bring an end to political victimisation and protect human rights, to protect workers’ rights, take measures to reduce cost of living and ensure the resettlement of the displaced as soon as possible.