“Our main responsibility is to protect and foster the working class”: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) always stood for the rights of the working class and fought against imperialism and colonialism and would continue these policies forever. He called on the people to forget the differences and join hands for the vital task of building the nation.

The Government will on principle be committed to ensure dynamic employment and decent work for the working class as envisaged under Item 8 of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Transforming, he said, speaking at the SLFP-UPFA May Day Rally at the Samanala Grounds, Galle. The May Day rally held with the participation of massive crowds thronging from all over the country was followed by the meeting held under the patronage of President Sirisena.

The President said that according to Police reports, out of all May Day rallies held islandwide, the Galle rally and meeting had attracted the largest crowd. He described the rally as a boost for the SLFP and the UPFA. The heavy rain did not deter the large crowds that participated in the rally with great enthusiasm.

President Sirisena further said that the United Nations on its agenda for sustainable development has emphatically reiterated their special focus on the advancement of the working class in the section of Decent Work and Economic Growth. In that respect, they have resolved to ensure decent work for all workers. By decent work they mean obtaining work under justified and fair working conditions securing due rights and privileges of the working class.

“Hence as a pro- working class government I am pleased to pledge as a May Day resolution of the Government that we would resolve to foster our working class on par with the UN agenda for sustainable development. Not only for the working class, our Government is further determined to guarantee the rights and privileges of common masses in obtaining their valued contribution towards sustainable development,” President Sirisena said.

He said that the worker as defined during 18th, 19th and first half of 20th centuries are quite different from the worker of today. In that era, a Marxist was described as a blue collar worker. However, with the advancement of technologies and vast social changes, the present day worker is not merely a manual labourer. Today, the working class includes a large number other professional teachers, office workers and even the farming community. As such, in handling issues pertaining to the working class, we have to work with a broader perspective, he added.

“We have to build a morally upright and united country. People of all faiths and nationalities have to unite and work in harmony for the country’s progress. Hence, I sincerely invite all to join hands with the government to build a prosperous country. Any type of division is not acceptable or advantageous for the country. We have to take the country forward. The nation has to settle a huge foreign debt. Absolute financial loss in SriLankan Airlines is estimated at over Rs. 85 billion. All these are severe national issues, the President pointed out.

The President pointed out that during the short period in power, the Government succeeded in rectifying a number of issues affecting the country’s working class. “Owing to the Government’s correct foreign policy, we could win the faith and trust of the international community and consequently secure a number of advantageous privileges to our working class. Through proper management and consultation with the European Union, they assured the withdrawal of the ban on fish exports to Europe. The gazette with effect to the issue will be published,” he said.

President Sirisena further said that by practicing a proper foreign policy, “we have gained many other benefits and privileges for the working class. In no time, we will get back the GSP plus concession. In the future, we will be able to win many more rewards and benefits for the working class by following the correct policies with regard to national and international issues.”

“We need advanced technology and financial support from the international community in our forward march for development. For the first time in the history a Sri Lankan Head of Government has been invited to the G7 Summit scheduled to be held in the near future. During a short period, we have been able to restore a number of democratic rights and privileges which the people were deprived of with the introduction of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution,” he said.

Pix by Sudath Silva