Former President and UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe has fired a sharp rebuke at the National People’s Power (NPP), accusing the party of violating a multi-party agreement not to use Galle Face Green for political events, a move he described as a betrayal of trust and principle.
Speaking at a public meeting at the UNP district office in Uluwitike, Galle, Wickremesinghe claimed that all political parties had previously agreed to refrain from staging rallies or demonstrations at the iconic Galle Face venue, which became a symbol of the 2022 people’s protest movement.
“The government is now celebrating May Day at Galle Face, but all parties agreed not to use it for politics. Now they’re breaking that. Where’s the principle?” he asked, directly criticizing the NPP for planning their May Day rally at the very location where the Aragalaya once rose.
Wickremesinghe noted that Galle Face held deep political symbolism, being both the heart of the protests against former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the place where he, as successor, enacted a ban on political use of the grounds to prevent further unrest.
He framed the NPP’s move as opportunistic and hypocritical, questioning their commitment to the ethical standards they often promote.
UNP Opts for Grassroots May Day Strategy
In contrast, the UNP has opted for a low-profile approach to May Day this year. Wickremesinghe explained that his party will not host a centralized national rally but instead conduct awareness events at divisional levels.
“There’s no point dragging thousands to a single venue on May 1. It’s the last holiday before elections, our strength is in the villages, and that’s where we’ll be,” he said, pointing out the practical limitations of massive gatherings during a crucial campaign period.
The Galle event was also held to motivate and prepare local UNP candidates contesting in the Galle district for the upcoming local government elections.
Wickremesinghe ended his remarks by recalling his administration’s role in stabilizing the country post-Aragalaya and his strategic choice to keep Galle Face apolitical, a decision he now sees being undone.
