The May Day procession planned by one of the Vice President’s of the Mahajana Party, Hirunika Premachandra to march to the Town Hall and leave when the UPFA procession reaches the venue had been cancelled on a Presidential directive.

The party had agreed to Hirunika’s May Day plan, but the President had summoned Hirunika’s mother and ordered that her daughter cancels her May Day plans.

Bharatha Lakshman Premachandra’s wife had accepted a post as a Presidential coordinator after her husband’s death due to financial difficulties faced by her and the family and due to pressure from the President. The President had threatened to take over the Summit Flats residence and the vehicle given to Premachandra if she decided not to accept the post. Therefore, amidst protests from Hirunika and family members against accepting the President’s offer, Premachandra had been compelled to accept the post.

She had to face the challenge of bringing up Hirunika and her brother without a private residence or vehicle since their Kolonnawa residence was in a dilapidated condition.

The President has been using Premachandra’s wife to control Hirunika’s political work. In this backdrop, Hirunika’s mother had wept and pleaded with her to give up her May Day plans. Premachandra’s wife and daughter have been at loggerheads due to the President’s actions. After a massive show down with her mother recently, a distressed Hirunika had taken a private bus journey to Anuradhapura and back.