By D.G.Sugathapala   

A women’s May Day rally with the participation of 15 women’s organisations headed by the Southern Shramiks Forum was held in the Galle town yesterday.   

Garment workers, estate workers and employees in several other private sector institutions participated.   Programme Organiser of the Women’s Centre Kanchana Abeysekara said it was the first ever May Day rally held in the country.  The demonstration that set off from Galle town proceeded to Kaluwella and returned to the main bus stand where they held the rally.

Addressing the rally Kanchana Abeysekara said the women workers were facing severe hardship for want of a pay commensurate with their work. 

She pointed out that they were in a predicament due to the spirraling cost of their basic needs including hostel fees, food and medicine. She said thousands of families that depended on woman workers were at a loss as they were facing economic constraints due to the closure of medium and small-scale factories that resulted in the loss of livelihood.   

She further said the government was up in arms against the working class and that steps were being taken to suppress the labour movements under the pretest of prevention of terrorism.