16 May Day rallies in Colombo.

The United Peoples Freedom Alliance prepares to mark the May Day this year with the working masses on a grand scale.  More than one million people will participate in the UPFA May Day Rally representing the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and other alliance parties.

 The procession will start from the Nelum Pokuna Mawatha at 12.00 noon and will proceed through Horton Place, D.S. Senanayake junction and arrive at Campbell Park via Baseline Road Borella. The rally will start at 3.00 pm under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

 Governor of Western Province Alavi Maulana said the President as a trade union leader is ready to grant more concessions for the welfare of the working masses.

 The United National Party will hold their May Day functions at three locations.  May day functions for the people of Colombo and Kalutara districts will be held at the party Headquarters Sirikotha tomorrow morning. The May Day function of the Youth Front of the party will be held in Badulla and the main function together with the combined opposition will be held in Kurunegala.

 The National Freedom Front will start their procession from near t St. Johns College Dematagoda and will hold the rally at P.G.Sirisena Grounds under the leadership of Minister Wimal Weerawansa.

 The Left Parties will hold their rally at the Lalith Athulathmudali ground at Kirulapona.

The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna will start their procession from the S.De.S.Jayasinghe grounds and will hold their rally at BRC Grounds in Dehiwela.

 Several rallies will be held in the upcountry in Talawakele and Nuwara Eliya.

 The police, meanwhile, have finalized all arrangements to ensure the conduct of May Day rallies smoothly.   Senior DIG Anura Senanayake said 24 May Day rallies and processions have been organized and 16 of them will be held in Colombo. Six thousand police officers will be deployed to ensure security and control traffic. It is expected that around six hundred thousand will attend this year's May Day rallies. All measures have been taken to ensure security of the public. Drivers are requested to use alternative roads to avert temporary traffic congestion. Essential services such as transporting passengers to the airport and patients to hospitals will be facilitated.

 It is expected that about ten thousand buses will bring May Day participants to Colombo from outstations. All arrangements have been made to ensure the security of participants coming from outstations. 172 motorcycle traffic units will also be in operation.