While claiming that the next May Day would be held under a UNP government, UNP acting leader Karu Jayasuriya who led the party’s May Day rally urged the government to hold a general election and said his party would do the rest.

He said this and pointed out that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had recently said he would hold a general election if the Opposition wanted one.

Addressing the party’s May Day rally in Ampara today, Mr. Jayasuriya said, “It was the President who said he would hold a general election if the opposition wanted him to, and we urge him to hold one in a free and fair manner and we will do the rest.”

Mr. Jayasuriya said the large crowds which participated in the UNP rally in Amapara had given a red light to the government.

He said, the party had intended to bring more people but could not do so due to unavoidable circumstances. He said only one bus had come from some constituencies as hiring charges were high.

UNP National Organiser Daya Gamage said his party had succeeded in hold a May Day rally despite the efforts made by some interested persons to sabotage party activities. “These persons ridiculed the leader and the leadership council when it was appointed; but we will show our strength at the next elections,” he said.(Yohan Perera)