Today is World Labor Day or May Day. This is the 136th time it has been celebrated.
In 1886, a group of workers protested in Chicago, USA, demanding an eight-hour shift, which lasted for several days.
Police attacked the protest and a large number of people were killed and another were arrested.
The first day of the struggle, May 1, was declared International Labor Day in 1889 by the International Labor Organization.
Accordingly, many countries around the world celebrate Labor Day annually. World Labor Day is celebrated by organizing walks, rallies and meetings.
In the past, workers ‘struggles have been waged over long working days and weeks against violations of workers’ rights, including labor exploitation and child labor.
After being declared a day of support for workers by trade unions and socialist groups in the late 19th century, May 1 was intertwined with the Labor Movement.
May Day is an official holiday in many countries. 1956 T. B. Ilangaratne, who was the Minister of Labor in Mr. S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike’s government, has declared May 1 as a public holiday in Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, too, May Day walks and rallies have previously been organized by various political parties.
But the celebration of May Day has been hampered for the past two years by the Covid epidemic.
Due to the success of this year’s vaccination program, people have the opportunity to celebrate May Day, but it is reported that the colorful May Day celebrations will not be seen today.
Instead, due to the economic crisis in the country, May Day celebrations have been organized based on anti-government themes and slogans.
It is reported that some political parties are preparing to hold May Day rallies by coming from other areas in the country to the Galle Face grounds to celebrate with protesters at the Galle Face.
It is reported that the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna, the country’s main ruling party, will not hold a May Day rally this year. Their partner groups, the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna and several organizations including the Ceylon Labors’ Central Board, are scheduled to hold their May Day rally at 3.00 pm in front of the Ananda Samarakoon Theater in Nugegoda.
The Lanka Sama Samaja Party, the Communist Party, the Democratic Left Front, the Mahajana Party and the Deshakthi Janatha Peramuna, which were former allies of the government, will march from Slave Island to Hyde park and hold a May Day rally at 3.00 pm.
The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) has organized their May Day rallies at the seat level and district level and will hold a May Day commemoration at the party headquarters with the participation of the Colombo District Electoral Organizers and Members of Parliament.
Demanding the formation of an interim government, the May Day rally of the Jathika Nidahas Peramuna will be held at the Apegama premises in Battaramulla at 3.00 pm today.
The Samagi Jana Balawegaya had decided to hold a May Day rally in Colombo after the end of the Samagi Bala march which started in Kandy on 26th.
The Red May Rally organized by the JVP will be held in four stages in Colombo, Jaffna, Anuradhapura and Matara. The march will begin in front of the P. D. Sirisena Stadium in Maligawatta, Colombo and the May Day rally will be held in front of the Fort Railway Station.
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) is scheduled to hold a May Day rally in the center of Kilinochchi at 2.00 pm today under the theme ‘Uthuru – Negenahira Ape Nijabima’.
