A R Sindhu
“WE have waited, we have been abandoned, we have been tested—but the people who stood by us have brought us here. We, who have waited 65 years for one goal, will surely succeed in building this country.” These were the words of Anura Kumara Dissanayake, President of Sri Lanka and leader of the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) as well as the National People’s Power (NPP), the broad political front formed by the JVP. He was addressing a massive May Day rally of around 1.5 lakh people this year in Colombo.
The JVP has been organising massive May Day rallies across various parts of Sri Lanka for many years. Last year, the rally was held under the banner of the National People’s Power (NPP). Following the landslide victory of the NPP in the parliamentary elections in November 2024, and the subsequent election of Anura Kumara Dissanayake as President, the JVP decided to hold a single, central rally in Colombo under the NPP banner. Continuing its tradition, the JVP invited representatives from the CPI(M), CPI, and Forward Bloc in India, as well as from the Communist Party of China and the Communist Party of Vietnam, to attend the May Day rally. A R Sindhu, Central Committee member and secretary, CITU, represented the CPI(M).
This year’s rally, held at the historic Galle Face Green grounds (spanning around five hectares), overflowed onto nearby roads and painted Colombo red. As the first May Day rally under the new government, it served as a powerful declaration of its commitment to the working classes who played a pivotal role in bringing it to power. It also marked the first major occasion for the new government to outline its priorities and plan of action after nearly six months in office. The rally was addressed by Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, along with several other ministers and Members of Parliament.
The main speaker and most popular leader of the NPP, President of Sri Lanka Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD), delivered a passionate speech outlining the measures taken by his government and its future direction – drawing repeated applause from the massive crowd. His address reflected the political vision of the NPP, which has assumed governance in a crisis-ridden, debt-laden nation under IMF-imposed financial constraints, while also grappling with long-standing social and ethnic conflicts. A portion of his speech addressing the Tamil issue was simultaneously translated into Tamil, symbolising a renewed commitment to inclusivity and reconciliation. “People in the North and East backed the NPP – even though much of our communication had been in Sinhala. That was the level of faith and trust they placed in us. Despite the presence of Tamil-speaking political strongholds in those areas, they chose us. I assure you that the NPP will protect their rights, their lands, and their dignity – just like any other citizen’s,” he declared.
He emphasized his government's firm commitment to ending corruption at all levels and to holding the guilty accountable, regardless of their status. Reiterating the NPP government’s dedication to the working class, he highlighted recent measures such as the increase in wages for public sector and government employees. He also announced that a bill to raise the minimum wage across all sectors would be introduced in the upcoming session of Parliament. The president reaffirmed the government’s commitment to workers in the plantation and fisheries sectors, acknowledging their decisive role in the NPP’s electoral victory.
The NPP government conducted local body elections on May 6 – an exercise that had been postponed by previous regimes since 2018. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake emphasized the importance of agricultural sector reforms, highlighting his government’s efforts to ensure the availability of essential inputs such as fertilizers and quality seeds to farmers. He called upon farmers and workers to play a decisive role in the local body elections to advance agrarian reforms and strengthen grassroots democracy. Empowering local bodies, he said, was key to implementing the NPP’s people-centric policies and ensuring real empowerment of the population.
At the same time, he cautioned the people about the challenges and limitations ahead, reminding them that social equity and justice cannot be achieved overnight. He assured that the NPP would continue its struggle for social justice and equality, and remain committed to fulfilling the people's expectations – not merely through the authority granted by the Constitution or Parliament, but by drawing strength from the people's power itself.
A R Sindhu extended revolutionary greetings to the working class and the people of Sri Lanka for electing a government that stands against neoliberal policies. She stated that the victory of the NPP is significant not only for the Left in India but also for the entire South Asian region, as their experience will be crucial in the broader struggle against neoliberal capitalism. CPI Kerala state secretary Binoy Viswam, All India Forward Bloc general secretary G Devarajan, and Peng Xiubin, Director General of the Bureau of South and South East Asia Affairs of the Communist Party of China (CPC), also addressed the gathering and expressed solidarity.
Tilvin Silva, the general secretary of the JVP and one of the principal architects of the NPP, delivered the concluding address. In his rousing speech, he called upon the working class and the toiling people of Sri Lanka to consolidate their political strength while remaining vigilant against the class enemy.
Earlier that day, the Sri Lankan president held detailed discussions with the Indian Left leaders and the CPC representative at the JVP headquarters. Anura Kumara Dissanayake acknowledged the concerns among the Left in the region regarding their approach to the IMF. He reiterated the commitment of his government and the NPP to resolving all regional and ethnic issues. He admitted that the JVP/NPP had not been very sensitive to the concerns of the Tamil people in the past and noted the remarkable support the NPP received from both Tamil and Muslim communities. He emphasized that it is now the responsibility of the NPP and his government to live up to their expectations. He also stated that the NPP’s victory has had a positive impact on the Left across the region and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to strengthening Left forces in South Asia through mutual cooperation. The President expressed keen interest in developments in India and showed particular enthusiasm about visiting Kerala to learn from the experience of the LDF government.
The next day, the Left party leaders held discussions with Tilvin Silva, general secretary of the JVP, at the party headquarters. He outlined the challenges facing the NPP government, emphasizing its priorities of achieving political and economic stability. Comrade Silva shared insights into the formation of the NPP by the JVP, highlighting the collaboration with intellectuals, professionals, various social groups, and political organizations. He stressed that the government’s foremost goal is to stabilize the economy and polity while implementing as many pro-people measures as the economic situation permits. He also detailed proposed policy initiatives aimed at strengthening the economy, particularly the agricultural sector, through strengthening the public and cooperative sectors and eliminating corruption. The leaders discussed the potential impact of the ongoing trade war initiated by the USA on countries like India and Sri Lanka. The conversation further covered the party’s education system and organizational structure. All leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Left movement in the region and to sharing experiences for mutual growth.
The Left party leaders also visited the Sri Lankan Parliament and met Speaker Jagath Wickremerathna at his residence. The programmes were coordinated and led by Kalpana Madhubhashini, head of the International Department of the JVP.
The experience of the NPP government in managing IMF conditionalities and restrictions – especially in the context of the ongoing trade war initiated by the US – will be crucial not only for Sri Lanka but also for people’s movements in countries like India. This year’s May Day has brought renewed hope to the people of Sri Lanka, marking a significant moment of optimism.
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