“Some people argued that the same group of people were being taken from place to place when a district held a series of conferences such as ‘We women together..’. We would like to ask those who have made such a bankrupt statement whether it is the same group participating in our May rallies held scattered in three corners of the country. It is the strength of the National People’s Power and our confidence in our people. This is the colossal group of people that all of us have organized together in a few years,” said Comrade Tilvin Silva, General Secretary of Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna.
He emphasized this while addressing the May Day Rally of National People’s Power held at Matara Beach Park.
He said, “First of all, we offer our greetings to all of you who came to Matara from several districts with the message that we are ready to establish a people’s government in this country in a few months. The people who participated in the May rallies in Matara, Colombo and Anuradhapura confirmed that the National People’s Power will form the next government. “Some people argued that the same group of people were being taken from place to place when a district held a series of conferences such as ‘We women together..’. We would like to ask those who have made such bankrupt statement, whether it is the same group participating in our May rallies held scattered in three corners of the country. It is the strength of the National People’s Power and our confidence in our people. It is the colossal group of people we have organized together in a few years.
The enemies have come to know how strong we are. There are more than a hundred thousand people here at Matara Beach Park, and there is a similar crowd at Anuradhapura. In Colombo, the number commemorating International Workers’ Day is higher. International Workers’ Day was created in 1886 by the repression of the then rulers.
The rulers of this country who suppressed the people who took to the streets to demand their rights are celebrating May Day today. Ranil Wikaramasinghe’s uncle banned May Day in 1987 and shot and killed two people at Abeyarama at Narahenpita. They also celebrate May Day.
It has been proved that the UNP, SLPP and SJB are all obsolete and are falling into the dustbin of history. All the progressive people with the determination to rewrite history are joining hands with the Jathika Jana Balawega. No one gathered here has been given promises, alcohol or money to participate. Hundreds of thousands have come here despite difficulties at the division council level, collecting money using lists and bringing their own food packets. No one can change their course. A determined people came here with a purpose in the form of village-level organization networks. Despite the participation of such a large number of people, they are working with understanding as the force to change the country with discipline. You and all of us have proved that the ‘compass’ is the only disciplined voluntary force for nation-building. Here is a determined people who have proven they can cultivate on rocks. Even those who have not yet joined us have gathered here to vow their support for establishing a people’s government for the first time in history. Today, we have inherited a situation where the imperialist powers and rulers have oppressed people all over the world, and people do not have a suitable environment for us to live in. On one side, mountains of money are piled up, and on the other, poverty is spreading. Today, we live in a world where poverty, deprivation, hunger, exclusion from education, lack of health facilities and drugs have spread.
Imperialists today manufacture weapons and make wars. On the other hand, by producing medicines, they also create patients to sell them. Also, for months, the people of Palestine have been living amidst a brutal war being carried out by Israel Zionists. A similar tragedy exists all over the world. All of us in the compass raise our hands and express our support for the struggle to end this evil in the world. We express our support to the people of Palestine on this May Day.
Our elected rulers have given us a bankrupt country for seventy-six years. In that bankrupt country, small election games are being held these days. Until now, the rulers have kept the people living in hell but gave a small interval to that hell during the elections. Ranil Wickramasingha distributes twenty kilos of rice to get votes by distributing something during the election period. We need to change this political culture.
Also, fraud, corruption and waste should be stopped, and thieves must be punished. Every rupee stolen must be recovered. We assure the people that the only force that can achieve this is the National People’s Power.
Even though MPs and ministers who have been appointed as people’s representatives waste public money and are escorted by guards, we will completely change the culture of ministers cutting ribbons or spending more public money on various media shows. So far, one-third of the police have been deployed not to catch thieves but to protect them.”