News

May Day celebrations in Colombo & Kandy!

Published

2 years ago

May 1, 2023

editor

Various organizations including major political parties and trade unions have organized demonstrations and rallies in Colombo and Kandy today (01) on the occasion of the May Day.

SLPP – Campbell Park

The Labor Day rally of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) will be held today at 2.00 pm at the Campbell Park in Borella under the leadership of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

SLPP General Secretary MP Sagara Kariyawasam said they hope to hold the largest May Day celebration this year under the theme of “Conquering ambitions by overcoming challenges.”

UNP – Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium

The United National Party’s (UNP) Labor Day rally will be held at 9 am at the Sugathadasa Indoor Stadium in Colombo under the theme “Let’s conquer 2048 by focusing on Economy, Technology and Security” and under the leadership of UNP Leader and President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

SJB – A.E Gunasinghe Stadium

The Labor Day rally of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) will be held under the theme of “The Struggle of the Working People” at the A.E Gunasinghe Stadium. SJB National Organiser Tissa Attanayake said the May Day procession will leave the P.D. Sirisena Stadium at Maligawatta at 2 p.m. and reach A. E. Gunasinghe stadium.

JVP – Vihara Maha Devi Park

The Labor Day rally organized by the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) will be held at 4.00 pm near the Vihara Maha Devi Park in Colombo under the theme of “Let’s defeat the oppressive corrupt regime that sells the country and let’s rebuild a people-friendly regime.’ It will be held under the leadership of party leader MP Anura Dissanayake.

The party’s General Secretary Tilvin Silva said the rally will start around 2 p.m. from the BRC ground and will reach the Viharamahadevi Park at 4 p.m.

SLFP – Kandy

The Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) will hold their May Day rally at the Kandy Public Market premises at 2 pm.

SLFP Publicity Secretary Thisara Gunasinghe said their parade, which will start at 1 pm, will reach Kandy via Kumburala, Katugasthotala, Ampitiya and Gatambe Roads.

FPC – Kandy

The Freedom People’s Congress (FPC) will hold their May Day rally at Sahas Uyana premises near the Kandy City Centre (KCC), MP Dullas Alahapperuma said.

ULS – Hyde Park

MP Jayantha Samaraweera said that the Uththra Lanka Sabhagaya (ULS) will hold their May Day rally at the Hyde Park grounds in Colombo at 3 pm under the leadership of its Chairman Wimal Weerawansa.

FSP – Nugegoda

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) has organised their May Day parade from Delkanda Junction, Nugegoda at 1 pm and it will reach the Ananda Samarakoon stadium, Nugegoda where the main rally will be held, its Education Secretary Pubudu Jayagoda said.

Working People’s Joint Rally – P.D. Sirisena Park.

The Working People’s Joint Rally will be held at 3.00 pm at the P.D. Sirisena Stadium in Maligawatta. Their parade will start at 1 pm in front of the Colombo Fort Railway Station, Union leader Ravi Kumudesh said.

News

Siri Dalada Vandanawa : Parking instructions announced

Published

26 minutes ago

April 17, 2025

editor

Police have issued a guide to devotees attending the special exposition of the sacred Tooth Relic – the ‘Siri Dalada Vandanawa’ from tomorrow (April 18) onwards.

The event will take place from April 18th to April 27th. Tomorrow the exposition will be held from 3.30pm – 5.30pm. From April 19 – 27 it will be held from 12 noon – 5.30pm.

The event is expected to attract around 02 million devotees and a special security plan has been implemented with over 10,000 police personnel deployed. In addition, personnel from the Police Special Task Force, Police K9 Division, Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy, and Sri Lanka Air Force have also been deployed.

Police have also announced parking locations where devotees can park their vehicles and use dedicated public transport to proceed to the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.

Parking Locations:

Vehicles from Gampola and Colombo should stop at the Getambe Junction and can be parked at the Getambe Grounds and along the Gannoruwa Road.
Vehicles from the Kurunegala-Katugastota Road should stop at the 4th mile post.
Vehicles from the Madawala Road should stop at the Polgolla Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre premises.
Vehicles from Matale should stop at the Ra-Kade Junction, with parking available at Dharmasoka Mawatha, while light vehicles can park at the P. T. Ranjan Grounds.
Vehicles from Mahiyanganaya using the 18 Bend Road should park at the Pallekele Bandaranaike School Grounds.
Vehicles from Badulla should park in Gurudeniya.

Private vehicles will not be allowed to park in Kandy City.

Car parking will also be available at:

Car Park next to the Vevalpitiya Grounds (Light Vehicles)
Sahas Uyana Car Park (Light Vehicles)
Getambe Mahanama Ground (Light Vehicles)
Opposite Mahaiyyawa Cemetery (Buses)
Dharmashoka Bend to Japan-Kade Junction (Buses)
KMC Car Park (Light Vehicles)
Rajapihilla Bus Parking (Buses)
Karaliya Car Park (Light Vehicles)
Bogambara Prison (Buses)
Bogambara Grounds (Buses)
Thennekumbura Junction to Haragama Road (Buses)
SWRD Bandaranaike Mawatha (Buses)

Police have stated that long-distance buses operating via Kandy, as well as bus services originating from Kandy, will operate as usual. These buses will be permitted to stop at the Raja Pihilla Bus Stand and opposite the Bogambara Grounds. However, short-distance buses will not be permitted to stop and park within Kandy City.

Alternative routes

Police have introduced alternative routes for vehicles passing through Kandy during the aforementioned period.

Vehicles from Kurunegala and Matale heading to Colombo and Nuwara Eliya via Kandy can proceed to the Gohagoda Road from the Katugastota Bridge, head to Peradeniya, and then proceed to Colombo and Kandy.
Vehicles from the Colombo-Kandy Road and from Nuwara Eliya heading towards Kurunegala, Matale, and Mahiyanganaya can use the Peradeniya-Gohagoda Road.
Vehicles heading to Badulla can enter Dharmashoka Mawatha from the Mahaiyyawa Tunnel and proceed to Thennekumbura.

News

SL youth athletes win 02 more medals in Saudi Arabia

Published

1 hour ago

April 17, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka has clinched two international medals at the 6th Asian U18 Athletics Championships 2025 which began on April 15 in Saudi Arabia.

Dananjana Sewmini Fernando won the silver medal in the girls under-18 100m with a time of 11:9:2 seconds while Lahiru Achintha won the bronze medal in the under-18 1,500m.

Achintha achieved this medal by completing the event in 3:59:47 minutes.

News

Kasun Rajitha set to make Essex debut tomorrow

Published

1 hour ago

April 17, 2025

editor

Sri Lankan seamer Kasun Rajitha has joined Essex on a five-match deal for the Rothesay County Championship.

Chris Silverwood, former Sri Lanka head coach and current Essex director of cricket, played a key role in signing Kasun Rajitha.

“We are delighted to welcome Kasun to Essex and very much look forward to watching him perform in the County Championship,” said Silverwood. “I know his experience and skill set will certainly help strengthen our already superb bowling attack.”

In a statement released by Essex, Rajitha added: “It is a really proud moment for me to be joining Essex. I have followed the team over the years, and they have always produced excellent and entertaining first-class cricket.

“I am joining a strong bowling unit and look forward to contributing on the field and helping the team win matches. I would like to thank Chris Silverwood for giving me this opportunity and Sri Lanka Cricket for allowing me to further hone my skills.”

Rajitha joins Essex after fast bowler Sam Cook’s injury. Rajitha’s addition is also seen as a solution to the loss of Shardul Thakur, who was called up for the IPL, according to the Essex management.

The 31-year-old The right-armer has 18 Test caps, with 55 wickets at 29.58, and returned a career-best 5 for 56 in the last of those appearances, in March 2024 against Bangladesh.

He is scheduled to make his debut tomorrow (April 18) against Worcestershire at Chelmsford.