While all other political parties in Sri Lanka are actively organizing May Day rallies, the United National Party (UNP), led by former President Ranil Wickremesinghe, has notably opted not to hold any rally or related event this year. This marks a significant and unusual departure from tradition.
Last year, Mr. Wickremesinghe commemorated May Day by paying tribute to former party leaders with a floral garland ceremony held at the UNP headquarters in Sirikotha. However, this year, the party has made no arrangements for any May Day celebrations or public commemorations.
Once regarded as the proud party that led Sri Lanka to independence, the UNP under Mr. Wickremesinghe currently does not have a single elected Member of Parliament. This absence from parliamentary representation reflects the deep decline of a party that once held a prominent and respected place in the country’s political landscape.
This decline stands in stark contrast to the party’s vibrant history. The first May Day rally held by the UNP government after its formation in July 1977, under the leadership of President J.R. Jayewardene, was a grand affair. The rally featured renowned Indian singers alongside W.D. Amaradeva, the iconic figure in Sri Lankan music.
In 1978, the UNP hosted its first government-led May Day rally at Galle Face Green. At this event, the esteemed scholar and musician W.D. Amaradeva performed the “Saraswati Abhinandana Shastri Geetha.” Other prominent Sri Lankan vocalists also delivered classical music performances, and Mohammed Rafiq, a celebrated singer brought from India, graced the stage with traditional Indian music.
The tens of thousands who attended that historic rally listened to the performances in a state of serene reflection, highlighting the cultural and political significance the UNP once embodied.
The contrast between that golden era and the current absence is stark. A musical segment in the latter part of the video below illustrates how the deterioration of the political regime has extended its influence to even the UNP—once a party with a powerful grassroots following—and, more broadly, to the entire Sri Lankan society.
Source: Lanka Truth
