Sri Lanka marks International Workers’ Day 2025 with a political spectacle that’s anything but ordinary. From Colombo’s iconic Galle Face Green to the misty hills of Talawakele, party leaders are staging power plays in a battle for the working-class vote.
With at least 15 major rallies scheduled, Colombo is under tight security and traffic controls. Here’s how the key players are making their May Day moves:
Colombo’s Main Stage:
- Galle Face Green: National People’s Power returns to its symbolic stage as President Anura Kumara Dissanayake leads the party’s massive May Day rally. This marks the party’s first rally at Galle Face since political gatherings were reapproved at the site once dominated by Aragalaya protests.
- Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP): Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa is set to address crowds at the Ananda Samarakoon Open Air Theatre in Nugegoda at 2:00 PM, showcasing the Rajapaksa family’s continued political clout.
- Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP): Retreating from mass rallies, SLFP keeps it solemn with a memorial event at its Darley Road headquarters. The gathering honors T.B. Ilangaratne with floral tributes, drawing veteran trade unionists.
- Other Rally Zones in Colombo:
- Hyde Park
- Viharamahadevi Gardens
- Colombo Municipal Council
- Armour Street
- Keselwatte (near E.A. Gunasinghe statue)
- P.D. Sirisena Stadium
- Kosgas Junction
- Colombo Public Library
Beyond the Capital:
- Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB): Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa ditches Colombo for a dramatic rally in Talawakele at 2:00 PM — a bold move to capture the plantation sector’s workforce.
- Sarvajana Balaya: MP Dilith Jayaweera brings business into the labor conversation with a rally themed “Workers towards Entrepreneurship” at Warakapola Sati Pola grounds, 10:30 AM.
- Frontline Socialist Party: Known for their radical roots, they’ll gather at Lalith Athulathmudali Stadium in Kirulapone for what promises to be a fiery display.
- United National Party (UNP): Notably, no May Day celebration this year. The silence from Sirikotha is deafening.
Expect Delays:
Due to the sheer number of events in Colombo, motorists should brace for serious traffic congestion. Police have issued alternate route advisories and urge the public to comply with traffic regulations.
From floral tributes to fiery speeches, Sri Lanka’s May Day 2025 is not just a celebration, it’s a political battlefield.
