Today, May 1 marks International Workers’ Day, commemorating the historical fight for workers’ rights and the establishment of the eight-hour workday.
This year, main political parties, independent groups, and trade unions are proudly participating in activities to celebrate International Workers’ Day. Around 40 marches and rallies are scheduled in Colombo and other major cities across Sri Lanka.
Notably, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna at Borella Campbell Ground, the United National Party at P.D. Sirisena Stadium, the Samagi Jana Balavegaya at Colombo Chatham Street, and the National People’s Power in Colombo, Jaffna, Matara, and Anuradhapura have organised meetings. Additionally, groups like the Sri Lanka Sama Samaja Party in Nugegoda, Frontline Socialist Party at Hyde Park Stadium, Sri Lanka Freedom Party in Gampaha, Communist Party of Sri Lanka in Kirulapone, United Socialist Party at Kosgas Handiya, and Ceylon Workers’ Congress in Kotagala are holding May Day parades and meetings.
The origins of International Workers’ Day, also known as May Day, trace back to May 1, 1886, when workers in Chicago protested for an eight-hour workday, sparking significant labour actions. This day evolved into a global observance for workers’ rights following the tragic events at Chicago’s Haymarket Square, where a rally on May 4 turned violent after a bomb was thrown at the Police, resulting in the deaths of several Police officers and an unknown number of civilians. This incident led to the arrest and subsequent execution of several labour leaders, known as the Haymarket Martyrs, who became symbols of the labour rights movement.
Sri Lanka began officially recognizing Labour Day in 1927, and the first major May Rally in Ceylon started at Price Park in Colombo, concluding at Galle Face Green in 1933. Labour struggles intensified in the late 1940s, with significant leadership emerging from those involved in these movements.
In 1956, under the coalition government of Prime Minister S.W.R.D.Bandaranaike’s Sri Lanka Freedom Party and Philip Gunawardena’s Lanka Sama Samaj Party, May Day was celebrated with the colours red and blue and declared a national holiday for the first time.
Today, we commemorate the 138th anniversary of International Labour Day. The initial strike of May 3, 1886, escalated after employers incited an armed Police response, which tragically resulted in the deaths of four workers. The conflict intensified the following day at Haymarket Square, leading to more casualties.
Labour leaders including August Spies, Albert Parsons, Adolph Fischer, George Engel, Samuel Fielden, Louis Lingg, Michael Schwab, and Oscar Neebe were arrested and faced harsh sentences. In recognition of the sacrifices made by these labour advocates, the International Labour Organisation officially established May 1, as International Workers’ Day in 1889, to honour the struggle for workers’ rights globally.
