Sri Lanka, April 28 -- The United National Party (UNP) has turned down the invitation extended by the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) to participate in its May Day rally.

UNP General Secretary Thalatha Athukorala, in a letter addressed to her SJB counterpart Ranjith Madduma Bandara, said her party is not in a position to participate in political activities on May 1 this year as it is a full Moon Poya Day.

"It was late President Ranasinghe Premadasa who first advised against participating in political activities on a Poya Day. This is also the tradition of the UNP. This is why we decided not to participate in your Mady Day rally," Ms. Athukorala said in her letter.

"However, this does not mean that the UNP is not willing to work with the S...