Fulfill people’s aspirations: President
The red flag carried with pride by the workers around the world symbolises the centuries old history of the collective victories achieved by them and their unity and solidarity, President Maithripala Sirisena states in a message to mark May Day.
The message: “May Day is the day working people commemorate the unparalleled victories accomplished with the sacrifice of their blood, tears and sweat. The inspiration of the May Day could be acknowledged as the agony and misery of the working people experienced by them in the factories, working places, farmhouses or in any place they work. The gigantic mechanism called production runs as a result of the collective hard work done by the working people, the cogwheels of the production machinery. In each and every step put forward by the world marks the hard work, tears and sweat of labour.
When the world commemorates May Day, the utmost importance and recognition is bestowed on the worker who sheds tears and sweat. Every flag raised on May Day is a salute to honour the sweat and tears that come from the life blood of the working people.
Since the people’s victory in 1956, the working class gradually won many of their rights and privileges and at present we have entered into a more proactive, efficient pathway in this progressive movement.
Hence, we should take a firm determination to fulfill the aspirations of our people with a firm commitment to make the achieved victories a reality in this May Day in the present context of the nation entering into a new economic and political process with the new democratic and free approach won on January 8, 2015. On this May Day, I offer my heartfelt best wishes to the working people to achieve victories while protecting their rights.”
Give priority to safeguard workers’ rights: PM
May Day is internationally dedicated to those who labour and work for the betterment of the society at large, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe state in a May Day message.
The message: “As a nation, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that their commitment is valued and appreciated, their welfare is assured and that the proper environment is shaped to enhance their contribution to society.
As we come together to celebrate May Day, it is timely to reflect upon the role of the unions that represent the workers and their rights. The unions must ideally give priority to safeguarding the rights of the workers instead of focusing on political agendas. Indeed such a farsighted vision would not only empower the workers but also serve the best interests of the country. We as a government are willing to set the stage for such a progressive move with optimism and sincerity.
As the workers gather today to celebrate their day, I take this opportunity to wish them a renewed sense of hope not just to overcome the challenges at their work places but also to overcome the challenges they face in life everyday.”
‘Working class, the lifeblood of the nation’
:Minister of Labour and Trade Relations
"This day is dedicated to the working class who are the lifeblood of the nation. I consider it a great privilege to join hands with the working class to celebrate international workers day. The protection of the rights of the working class that were won in a historical and arduous struggle is our prime duty.
It is to commiserate with that historic struggle that the working class of Sri Lank to join hands with their counterparts the world over by raising their voice today. The active contribution of the working class is very important to achieve sustainable development goals. Industrial peace built through the tripartite agreement between employer and employee and the state is of great assistance towards achieving these goals. A proper value should be accorded to the labour contributed at the agricultural level, the plantation sector and at construction sites: It is only then that the working class can win against their struggles in life.
The working class is the engine of the country's economic growth. It is our prime duty and responsibility to actively intervene in protecting their rights.
The government has introduced legislation needed for their proffesional security, health and welfare - we have created a good working class environment by taking into consideration the guidelines set out by the ILO.
We have been able to increase the salaries of private sector workers by Rs. 2,500 and for the first time in history a minimum salary of Rs. 10, 000 has been declared for the private sector: Both these pieces of legislation are now in operation. This is a great victory achieved by the working class in the country.
Our country today has a strong working class movement - that is also a source of strength to the working class An atmosphere neccessary for workers to win their rights without joining trade unions and without fear had been created in the country today.
We as a government are always prepared to solve problems with trade unions through discussion and conversation.
Through this we will be abe to overcome all challenges set before the country and achieve national development goals. I extend good wishes to the entire working class and to the trade union movements. "
Sabaragamuwa PC split in two
N. P. Rajadurai Ratnapura Special Correspondent
A group of SLFP members of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council have announced plans to participate in the SLFP May Day rally in Galle, while another has announced plans to attend the common opposition rally in Kirulapone, Provincial Minister Athula Kumara said.
He said 11 Council members will attend the SLFP rally at Galle. They will firmly back the SLFP led by President Sirisena at all times, he said.
All workers should attend Kirulapone rally : Chandrasena
Gamini Jayasinghe Chula Bandara Kulasekara and Gayan Rajapaksa Anuradhapura District UPFA Parliamentarian S. M. Chandrasena said people would attack him with rotten eggs if he failed to attend the Joint Opposition May Day rally in Kirulapone.
He said that while various parties have organised rallies to mark May Day, properly speaking all workers should attend the Kirulapone rally becuse it is the only proper rally organised for workers.
He said that at meeting in Anuradhapura recently, nearly 130 former SLFP local government representative had unanimously decided they would attend the Kirulapone rally.
Harrispattuwa SLFP supporters await Galle rally : K. Chandraratne
Kandy District Group Correspondent
SLFP supporters in Harrispattuwa are eagerly awaiting the opportunity to participate in the party's May Day rally at Samanala Grounds, Galle, Provincial Minister and Harrispattuwa SLFP Chief Organiser Ediriweera Weerawardena said.
These included members of the SLFP branch unions and women and youth organisations who are enthusiastically waiting the opportunity to participate in the rally under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena, he said.
He said this was because President Sirisena had proven his calibre and leadership by rendering a vast service to the country, its people and the party within a short period of time.
More than 142 buses with Matara UPFA supporters expected in Galle :Lakshman Yapa
PRIYAN DE SILVA, Matara Sports Correspondent
Finance State Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said more than 142 buses filled with UPFA supporters from Matara are expected in Galle on May 1.
“This is going to be an exemplary and highly successful May Day rally,” he said. “There will be representation from Jaffna and a special train will bring supporters in from Polonnaruwa. Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva and his supporters will be staying overnight at the Werahena temple, on their way to Galle. Minister Dayasiri Jayasekera has promised to come with five thousand of his supporters. All in all we are expecting that over 150,000 people will attend the UPFA’s May Day rally in Galle,” the minister said.
“It is the SLFP’s central committee that appointed President Maithripala Sirisena as the leader of the party. It is the duty of all the members to stand by the party leader. Let us see how many UPFA parliamentarians will be at the Kirulapone rally on May 1. The two major political parties in Sri Lanka, the United National Party and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, cannot be destroyed or splintered - all such attempts have failed in the past,” he said in conclusion.
Tamil Progressive Alliance largest rally in the country : Mano Ganesan
The May Day rally and procession of the Tamil Progressive Alliance bringing the trade unions of the Democratic People’s Front, the National Union of Workers and the Upcountry People’s Front will be held at Talawakelle.
The procession will start at 10 a.m from bus stand and proceed to the UC grounds where the rally will be held. TPA leader Mano Ganesan, deputy leaders Palani Thigambaram and V. Radhakrishnan are to address the gathering.
“There is a lot of guess work going on in the country about the likely vastness of May Day rallies being arranged in the country at three locations in Colombo and in Galle, by various parties and trade unions.
I guarantee that our May Day rally and procession would be the biggest of all in the country.
On the plantation worker wages issue, management companies have been given very reasonable time to come with alternative proposals.
But they have failed. Therefore we have lost patience now. One of our May Day resolutions most importantly will announce our firm stance on the long pending wages issue of the plantation workers,” said TPA leader Minister Mano Ganesan said.
Record number at UNP rally: Ratnapura MP
N. P. Rajadurai Ratnapura Special Correspondent
Ratnapura MP A. A Wijeytunga said he has arranged for 60 buses to take more than 3,000 party supporters to the UNP May Day Rally on May 1. He said a record number of party supporters are due to attend the UNP rally this year
Global crisis of capitalism is drastically burdening the working masses: JVP
Message from the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna on May Day 2016.
"Today is May 1, International Workers’ Day, the day that manifests the strength and unity of all working masses throughout the world. May 1 has been declared International Workers’ Day to commemorate the struggle of worker heroes in Chicago who sacrificed their lives 130 years ago demanding an 8 hour working day against the cruelty and oppression of capitalism.
‘May Day’ is the day of the working class. It is a day that reflects the international solidarity, unity, militancy and strength of the downtrodden masses led by the working class.
Today, capitalist rulers throughout the world have distorted the significance of the International Workers’ Day to use it for their petty political objectives. Capitalist rulers, who shot dead workers in Chicago in the USA who agitated for an 8 hour working day, themselves, are plundering the ownership of the International Workers’ Day. Hence, there is also a struggle before the working masses to save the ownership of the International Workers’ Day from its enemy.
This is a period capitalism; the capitalist socio-economic system displays its failure and ferociousness throughout the world. Despite the struggle for an 8 hour working day by comrades in Chicago that was won with sacrifice of lives, capitalist rulers are carrying on a conspiracy at present to deny the 8 hour working day for workers. Practice has already proved that rights of working masses cannot be protected and even the rights that have been already won are being abolished within capitalism. Hence the oppressed masses have no other alternative other than organising themselves to defeat capitalism globally to establish a new society and an administration of the working masses.
At a time when International Workers’ Day is commemorated this year the global as well as Sri Lanka’s capitalist system is in an insolvable crisis. Even developed countries have still not been able to get themselves free from the economic depression that started in the USA in 2008. Currently, countries like Greece are submerged up to the neck in debt and are slashing rights of their people. This is the situation in many countries in Europe. The crisis of capitalism has drastically burdened the working masses. Burdening the working masses with taxes, redundancy, slashing of salaries and rights continue to plague working masses.
Capitalism and Imperialism that is confronted with the deepest economic crisis in its history and is fast approaching its demise has deprived billions of working masses not only their right for an eight hour working day but also their fundamental rights for food, housing, health, education and employment. On the other hand it has created a ceaseless series of wars to plunder oil and other resources. Imperialism that has given life to various religious and communal terrorist cliques is shedding blood, murdering people and destroying property mercilessly for the existence of its system. Capitalism is taking the world again towards barbarism.
In such an environment, it is the responsibility of the downtrodden people lead by the working masses to rise against barbarism and achieve social progress. The working masses in the world have no other alternative other than give vigour for the struggle to defeat imperialism and capitalism to achieve Socialism. It should be the objective of the working masses all over the world.
Currently, the situation in Sri Lanka too has become very critical. The massiveness of the crisis is evident from the lament the Prime Minister made in Parliament stating Sri Lanka is confronted with a massive economic crisis. Sri Lanka has been brought to the edge of destruction by the cliques that ruled it for the past 68 years. They have buried Sri Lanka under a debt mountain. The per capita debt in Sri Lanka has risen to nearly Rs.500,000. Production has been neglected. The ruling classes throughout the world as well as in Sri Lanka consider that the only solution for this crisis is heaping the masses with the burden. This is the essence of the statement made by the Prime Minister that everyone will have to get ready to take in ‘bitter medicine’. Already, the government has prepared plans to deny people their rights, do away with fertiliser subsidy, slash employment opportunities and to do away with pension rights.
With the economic crisis the crisis in the ruling class too has intensified. The mess and internal clashes of Maithri – Ranil coalition and the division in the SLFP have brought the crisis of the ruling class to the surface. What does the socio-economic-political and cultural crisis that has surfaced in Sri Lanka clamour for It is none other than the fact that the existing feeble capitalist system should be toppled as capitalism in Sri Lanka can never create anything new for the people in the country. This emphasizes again and again the need of a new social transformation in place of the bankrupt capitalism. Political parties such as the UNP, the SLFP or other small cliques can never create a new society to find genuine solutions for the present crisis or bring economic development and progress to the country. For this the working masses lead by the working class and downtrodden masses should take the lead. It needs a political leadership and at this moment it is the JVP that has an alternative programme and could give such a leadership to the masses.
As such, a massive people’ power, people’s movement should be built with the working masses under the leadership of the JVP for a broad social transformation. The people’s movement that is already being built should be strengthened and all must commit for the task with determination and resolve.
The rights of the downtrodden people including that of the working masses could be won and protected and they could achieve their emancipation only by strengthening and bringing victory to such a people’s movement. The rights of the downtrodden people lead by the working class and all progressive people’s forces could be won and a better tomorrow could be created for the people only by such a people’s power; only by bringing victory to such a people’s power.
As such, on this May Day, we appeal to working masses, farmers, fisher folk, women, youths, students, professionals, intellectuals, environmentalists, media personnel, artistes, humanitarians, democrats and all progressives to rally with the JVP to struggle to defeat the present administration and the existing social system that has bequeathed death instead of life, diseases, famines and frustration, sorrow and pain and achieve a modern socialist society that affirms genuine economic development, equality, social justice, democracy and national unity.
Down with imperialism – liberation for the people!
Down with capitalism – Victory for Socialism!
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