May Day: Special traffic arrangements

by Norman Palihawadane

Special security and traffic arrangements are in place today in view of the May Day celebrations countrywide.Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said special May Day rallies and parades were scheduled to be held in Colombo, Nugegoda, Kandy, Hatton and Nuwara Eliya today and more than 3,500 police personnel had been deployed for the security and traffic operations.

SSP Thalduwa said that the Police had held discussions with the representatives of political parties and trade unions on their plans to hold May Day rallies. “We request the organisers of these events to use one lane of a road in a way that does not disturb the vehicles travelling on the other lanes.”

The spokesman said Colombo May Day ral lies were scheduled to be held at the Sugathadasa Stadium, Campbell Park in Borella, BRC Grounds, P. D. Sirisena Grounds and Ananda Samarakoon Open Air Theatre at Nugegoda.

SSP Thalduwa said steps had been taken to provide parking facilities for the vehicles participating in the May Day rallies in respective areas and urged the organisers to use those locations.

He said police had also been ordered to take legal action against drivers who park their vehicles on pavements and roads causing inconvenience to the public.In addition, the IGP has instructed senior police officers in the respective areas to arrange for security and traffic operations if any May Day rallies are held in those areas.