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World celebrates Labor Day today!

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The world celebrates the 137th International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day, today (01).

On May 1, 1886, a group of workers gathered in Chicago, USA, demanding that their working hours be limited to eight.

The number of people who joined the demonstration was more than a thousand and by the third day, the number of workers who participated in it exceeded 65,000.

May 3, 1886 was a decisive day in the strike. At the behest of the employers, a group of armed police officers attacked the workers, killing four.

More than 150,000 people joined the strike that lasted for 4 days, and on May 4th, a group of workers gathered at Haymarket Square in Chicago to protest the attack on the previous day.

A police officer was also killed in a bomb attack. The conflict further escalated, killing six police officers.

The exact number of workers killed in the riot is still unknown.

Labor leaders who inspired the struggle August Spies, Samuel Fielden, Adolf Fischer, Louis Lingg, Oscar Neebe, Albert Parsons and Michael Schwab were arrested and later prosecuted.

Oscar Neebe was sentenced to 15 years in prison, while Samuel Fielden and Michael Schwab were sentenced to life in prison.

The other five were sentenced to be hanged.

In 1889, the International Labor Organization decided that the colleagues who sacrificed their lives for labour rights should be remembered forever.

Accordingly, the 1st of May was declared as the International Labor Day.

Under the leadership of Labor Party Leader A. E. Gunasinghe, Sri Lanka celebrated Labor Day for the first time in 1927.

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Harshana Suriyapperuma resigns from Parliament

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Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, who served as the Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning, has resigned from Parliament. 

He is reportedly tipped to be appointed as the new Secretary to the Ministry of Finance after the retirement of Mahinda Siriwardana at the end of the month.

Meanwhile, the Secretary General of Parliament – Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera has informed the Chairman of the Election Commission in writing that a vacancy has arisen in Parliament due to the resignation of Dr. Suriyapperuma.

Dr. Suriyapperuma, a National List Member of Parliament representing the National People’s Power (NPP) and the Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Stabilization, submitted his letter of resignation to the Secretary General of Parliament.According to the letter submitted by Dr. Suriyapperuma, the resignation is effective from June 20, 2025.

Accordingly, the Secretary General has informed the Chairman of the Election Commission that, in terms of Section 64(5) of the Parliamentary Elections Act No. 1 of 1981, the seat held by Dr. Harsha Suriyapperuma in the Tenth Parliament is now vacant.

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit SL

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The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk will undertake an official visit to Sri Lanka from June 23 – 26, 2025. 

This marks the first visit by a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to Sri Lanka since February 2016.
During the visit, the High Commissioner is scheduled to call on the President and the Prime Minister. He will also hold meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, several other Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, senior Government officials, religious leaders, representatives of civil society, members of the diplomatic community, and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

As part of the programme, the High Commissioner will travel to Kandy where he will pay respects to The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic and call on the Chief Prelates of the Malwatte and Asgiriya Chapters. He will also travel to Jaffna and Trincomalee where he will meet with the Governors of the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

Substantive discussions during the visit will focus on further advancing the promotion and protection of human rights and reconciliation, in line with the Government of Sri Lanka’s ongoing constructive engagement with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

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3 DMT officials remanded until July 07

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Three officials from the Narahenpita branch of the Department of Motor Traffic (DMT), including the Deputy Commissioner, have been remanded until July 07 following allegations of accepting bribes totaling nearly Rs. 04 million.

The suspects were presented before Colombo Chief Magistrate Tanuja Lakmali Jayatunga earlier today (June 20) and court ordered their continued detention as investigations are continuing.Authorities allege that the officials solicited bribes from members of the public seeking vehicle licenses and registration services with these bribes reportedly discovered in their possession during the arrest.

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