On the evening of April 20, the Commander – in – Chief of the National Center for the Prevention of Covid 19, Shavendra Silva, said that the government had decided not to allow the International Labor Day (May Day) to be held on May 1, as the country was foreshadowing a third wave of Covid after the New Year season. Had been announced.
He further stated that the decision was taken after discussions with a group of representatives of political parties.
However, according to the relevant pictures, only the parties representing the government could be seen attending the discussion. May Day is celebrated not only by government political parties but also by the opposition and trade unions.
However, both the Opposition and the trade unions are expressing their displeasure over the government’s decision not to allow such May Day celebrations.
Speaking about the May Day celebrations, a group of powerful ministers and MPs who were in the government before the New Year season had said that they would not hold the May Day with the government this time and would hold a separate May Day. Due to this the government was in a state of shock. The Prime Minister also intervened to resolve the dispute and a special discussion was held with the ruling party MPs on the 19th immediately after the New Year season.
Meanwhile, Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara had also invited the former President to participate in the party’s small May Day celebrations this year.
Many have questioned whether there was a connection between the Army Commander’s announcement that May Day would not be allowed to take place the next day (20) after a special discussion with the Prime Minister on the 19th.
By April, the covid repression / quarantine rules were in a deadlock. Even when people were gathering and shopping, the government reminded them of the usual health practices but did not strictly enforce them. New Year’s festivities were allowed. New Year festivities were also seen on television channels with large crowds. Seeing these, the people of the country were not afraid of covid.
But the government was expecting the risk of a third wave after the New Year. Now it has arrived. Therefore, the Ministry of Health has decided not to allow any public gathering, said State Minister Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle.
Meanwhile, she added that it is important for the public to pay close attention to the development of the Covid business in the country if strict health regulations are not followed within the next one month.
However, now the year is over. Next is the celebration of International Workers’ Day. Now it’s starting to cry too. But there are no restrictions on other festivals organized by the government.
Meanwhile, the Center for the Protection of Public Property and Human Rights says that the government’s May Day ban should be defeated.
This was stated in a statement signed by its co-conveners Ranjan Senanayake and Sylvester Jayakody.
According to the Army Commander, the Army Commander did not bother to reveal the names of the political parties that agreed not to hold the May Day celebrations. have.
It is ridiculous that epidemiological leaders of the National Center for the Prevention of Rocky Covid 19, who are silent on the Sinhala, Tamil New Year celebrations and various other public meetings attended by thousands of people, including the 2020 Parliamentary Elections, are waking up to a serious health risk near May Day. They point out that the National Center for the Prevention of Covid 19 has been used to propose this May Day ban to cover up the inability of the government in the face of the government’s internal crisis and growing public anger on all sides.
World May Day, the day when working people of the world won their lives, the Center for the Protection of Public Property and Human Rights, comprising 22 of the country’s leading trade unions and mass organizations in the state, semi-state, banking and private sector, who claim that the so-called political party leaders are not entitled to defeat this foolish plan of the government All working people are urged to come forward to do so.
Meanwhile, the Ceylon Teachers Union has also issued a media statement stating that the government has no right to stop the May Day celebrations of working people using the Covid Committee.