AKD signals 2025 May Day as start of new political chapter in SL

PRESIDENT and National People's Power (NPP) party Leader Anura Kumara Disanayake yesterday delivered a fiery and heartfelt speech, not just to celebrate workers, but to declare the beginning of a new political chapter in Sri Lanka—pledging rebuild the nation on the principles of justice, unity, and clean governance.

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Standing before a sea of supporters at Galle Face Green at the NPP May Day rally, his words marked a clear departure from the traditional symbolism of May Day rallies—transforming the occasion into a declaration of power, purpose, and national renewal.

"For decades, we gathered at May Day rallies like this hoping to come into power. But today, we are no longer the Opposition—we are here as the Government," he declared amid a crowd roaring in response.

Drawing a sharp contrast between the NPP administration and past Governments, Disanayake denounced Sri Lanka's political dynasties and what he described as decades of corruption and inherited power.

"What you see out there are not political parties anymore. They are just remnants. Today, those people are in despair and living under a sense of hopelessness-debris. They passed power like inheritance from father to wife, wife to daughter, or father to brother and son or uncle to son-like a family treasure. They mismanaged this country, convinced they were above the people," he said.

He cited the landmark Presidential Election of 21 September 2024, noting it the day of the people, where the NPP marked the turning point in the country's modern political history. "The people wiped away those political debris, which suppressed them for decades," he said.

"Those who once lived in luxury are now terrified. They know the gravity of the corruption they were into. They know the crimes they committed. And they also know we won't let it slide," Disanayake stressed.

Calling the NPP's rise a culmination of 65 years of grassroots struggle, Disanayake paid tribute to the loyalty and resilience of supporters who stood by the party through decades of political exclusion.