President pledges to protect rights and privileges of working people

President Maithripala Sirisena addressing the UPFA May Day rally in Galle on 1 May

I am pleased to have an opportunity to hold this historic public gathering of the United Freedom People’s Alliance (UPFA), led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in Galle on 1 May. Shan Wijelal, Chandima Weerakkody and the General Secretary of the UPFA Mahinda Amaraweera and the leaders of the Alliance extended an immense support to make this May Day rally successful.

According to Police reports this is the May Day rally in which the largest number of people are participating, out of 49 May Day rallies being held island-wide. We offer respectful thanks to the political parties, trade unions and the members of other sectors who supported to make this rally a great success.

We have to think of the message we are giving to the country with this May Day rally. Our brethren parties have got together with us under the leadership of the SLFP accepting the political philosophy of social democratic politics introduced by S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike. The history of the SLFP goes back to 65 years. We have faced foreign invasions and therefore we know the repercussions of colonialism. Colonialism and imperialism are completely opposed to the policy of the SLFP. Within the country, we are taking steps to develop the nation and at the same time, we take steps to take the country forward internationally in accordance with the United Nation’s Charter.

Decent labour

When we speak about the May Day, the United Nation’s Organization issued a declaration on sustainable development, to which International Labour Organization has supported. The 8th proposal of that declaration clearly underlines that all the countries in the world should recognise the concept of decent labour. Sri Lanka accepts that concept. It clearly states that the principles of decent work should govern the utilisation of the labour of the working people. It means that the utilisation of the labour of the people should not be done in an unfair manner. We expect to work in accordance with the concept of decent work in our State policy.

The union leader, comrade Lesley Devendra presented a multitude of issues pertaining to the working people. Five proposals which are important to UPFA locally and internationally were adopted on this stage. I, as the President of the SLFP and the President of this country, honourably accept all those proposals, as well as the ideas presented by comrade Lesley Devendra.

The person who provides his labour to the country was called a labourer in the 18th century. But that definition of the word labourer has undergone transformation due to the new technology and the political transformations since then. In that ancient era, the ‘labourer’ was the person who sheds sweat. That included the people who worked at roads, fields and in the plantation sector, suffering in the heat due to sun and getting wet in the rains. But in the society which has been changed with new technology, the ‘labourer’ means everybody including the people working in offices. When we take as a country, the working people means those who work in every sector. The people who earn foreign currency abroad are also labourers. Everybody in offices and factories are considered as working people.

It is a main responsibility of a Government to ensure the rights and privileges of the working people are upheld and protected. That is the policy of the SLFP. Therefore, we definitely act in accordance with that conviction. We succeed in solving most issues that affected the working people during the last year. You know that European Union stopped importing our fish years ago and that was the first step of the economic sanctions against us. The GSP Plus relief was removed for the apparel industry and other industries. We were able to remove the ban for fish sale in the European Union. The gazette notification of the European Union lifting the fish import ban will be issued tonight. We are getting positive reports that we are getting the GSP relief from international organisations and the European Union within next few weeks.

Therefore, we, as a country has taken steps to develop indigenous economy and utilise those concessions, and with the international support to become a strong nation, with a solid economy. We need new technology. We need development assistance and encouragement. Today all countries in the world help us without any difference. The G -7 summit will be held in Japan in two weeks. This is the first time a Sri Lanka leader has been invited to that important summit. I believe we will be able to get an immense support from G 7 group to build the economy of our country.

Uplifting living standards

We should eliminate poverty from the country and achieve economic prosperity. For that purpose, the Government will take every possible step to uplift the living standard of the people. To achieve above mentioned target as an Unity-Government, the SLFP in collaboration with other friendly political parties will constantly commit ourselves to the task of providing a better future for the people, as well as to protect the rights of the working people and ensuring their privileges.

It is our duty and responsibility to strengthen the freedom and democracy in the country. These are the right people in the country are entitled. We fulfilled that responsibility by adopting the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. We need the commitment of all of us to build a better country. Irrespective of all differences of religion, language or ethnicity, we should unite for this goal. I extend an open invitation to all leaders of different political parties, members of trade unions and to all those who wish a better future for the citizens to join hands, irrespective of  party differences to build this country.

We cannot build a country by making a division among us. At present, what we should do is to unite in harmony. We have numerous challenges ahead of us.  Right now, the total outstanding Government debt is Rs. 8,500,000 million. The loss incurred by the SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Air during 2010 and 2015 amount to Rs. 85,000 million. To deliver a prosperous economy for the masses while facing these kind of enormous challenges, all of us should unite in brotherhood for the sake of the country and with the feeling that this is our country, our motherland and our people.

Over the past 26 years we faced a brutal war. The Northern Province, in the decades of 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s also raised their voices for the federalism. We should pay our attention not for these voices of federalism, but for the root causes that lead to raise their voice for the concept of federalism. We should find the causes for the occurrence of the war. It is the responsibility of all of us to take forward the country while providing solutions for all these issues. Let’s unite to build a positive country with economic prosperity where Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims, Buddhists, Catholics, Hindus and Islamists live in harmony, with a strong national reconciliation process while ensuring democracy and freedom.

Today, you have made a great commitment to deliver that message to the country. To make this May Day rally a successful one, our leaders in the Galle district, including all SLFP MPs, Provincial Councillors and Local Government Ministers and organisers made a tremendous commitment. The leaders of the SLFP trade unions, including Lesley Devendra and Ranjith Hettiarachchi, also made a great commitment and a contribution.

Our coalition, the friendly parties in the United People’s Freedom Alliance gave a massive support in organising this rally. A number of organisations which have not worked with us during the past, have also joined with us today. I respectfully welcome them.

Clean politics

I extend my heartfelt thanks to all the people who made sacrifices to make this May Day rally a success amidst facing heavy rains. Today, the people who participate in this rally made a contribution to the task of creating a clean political journey within the country.

The SLFP should be built up as a clean political party to form a Government in the future. The Party should be strong through its qualitative values. When we manage a political party it should managed in a way which is democratic and people centric. The most inspirational, democratic political leaders in the world have etched an indelible mark in their names as a result of their clean political activities.

In the past, prominent leaders such as Karl Marx, Lenin and Mao Tse-tung set examples on the human society as how to create a disciplined, better political movements. In the recent history, leaders like Abraham Lincoln in the USA, Mahatma Gandhi in India, Nelson Mandela in South Africa and S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike in Sri Lanka showed the path for a disciplined, clean politics.

A political leader should display a greater sense to eliminate fraud and corruption and to indulge in politics with a great commitment. Only by creating a disciplined, better and people centric political movement, we make this country a better one and could be able to form a good government. It is a truth that all of us agreed on.

The SLFP was defeated in two national elections held last year. But I believe this May Day rally laid the basic foundation to build the SLFP as a disciplined, better and more people centric political movement. At this moment, I would like to emphasise that henceforth we will move forward swiftly to make this a strong party.

As a servant of the people, I am ready to make any sacrifice to safeguard the Motherland and to build this country a better disciplined one. Today, I will give my pledge that SLFP-led UPFA will fulfil their duties and responsibilities without any fear to make Sri Lanka an exemplary nation to the world.

I wish you all success. May our great Motherland be victorious! Victory to the working people!