Today, May 1,  marks the 23rd commemoration of late President Ranasinghe Premadasa who was considered the first leader to come out from the common people to provide political leadership to the country.

The main commemoration was held at the Premadasa Memorial in Hulftsdorp , Colombo.

Ranasinghe Premadasa who entered politics under the Ceylon Labour Party and was elected to the Colombo Municipal Council where days later he was elected as the Deputy Mayor. In 1965 , Ranasinghe Premadasa was elected to parliament.

Since then, he held the positions of minister of local government, prime minister, and climbed the ladder to become the second executive president of Sri Lanka.

Introducing a revolution to housing in the country, he launched the Gam Udawa programme and also introduced the Jana Saviya and parental guardian schemes.

He was also the pioneer in providing school uniforms for children and introduced programmes aimed at industries.

Late President Ranasinghe Premadasa who rendered an insurmountable service to the nation was was assassinated during the May Day Rally in 1993.

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