NPP, SJB and SLPP won’t have parades

The ruling party National People’s Power (NPP) will celebrate May Day at Galle Face Green in Colombo. However, the NPP wouldn’t have a parade, party sources said.

The Wickremesinghe-Rajapaksa government in 2023 made Galle Face Green off limits for political rallies. But the incumbent government lifted the restrictions in November 2024.

The main Opposition Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will have its May Day rally at Talawakelle town. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 2 pm with the participation of SJB’s coalition partners, including Digambaram, Mano Ganesan.

The SLPP, too, decided against having a parade this time though it will hold a rally at the Ananda Samarakoon Open Air Theatre in Nugegoda.

The SLFP will hold its May Day event at its headquarters on Darley Road.

The Navy on April 28 carried out post-event maintenance efforts at Kandy Lake, following the Siri Dalada Vandanawa.

The collaborative efforts of the officials from the Clean Sri Lanka Secretariat, the Department of Irrigation, the Department of Archaeology and the Navy ensured the preservation of the lake’s natural beauty.

(Pic courtesy Navy media)

The Presidential Media Division (PMD) said yesterday that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had received an assurance from the head of the South Asia Division of the European Union (EU), Charles Whiteley during a meeting that the European Union would positively consider extending the GSP+ trade concession to Sri Lanka in its review.

The EU delegation, which arrived on Monday (28)., will be here till May 7. The EU delegation said the team would take stock of progress on the fulfilment of conditions linked to the granting of GSP+ trade preferences.

Political, Press, and Information Section of the Delegation said: “This is part of the regular biannual monitoring to which the Government of Sri Lanka has committed in order to benefit from GSP+. The Mission will meet government officials, relevant institutions, politicians, civil society, business associations, trade unions and will also make site visits.

Sri Lanka is one among eight low- or lower-middle income countries benefiting from the GSP+. This is a special incentive arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance that is open for vulnerable developing countries that have ratified 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, environmental protection and climate change, and good governance. The effective implementation of these 27 conventions is monitored with biannual missions and reports.”