May Day messages

Workers must unite in the Year of Freedom

President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his May Day message called upon the working people of the nation to strengthen the efforts to build a new Sri Lanka.

He added that today the country was on the threshold of a time where victories are transformed into unprecedented triumphs.

The President in his May Day message said:

It is with great pleasure that I salute this day all the working people of Sri Lanka who stand together in solidarity on the occasion of the International Workers' Day.

I will always remember how the working people of our country offered me every support in the endeavour to chart national development in the correct direction.

On the one hand, we fearlessly stood up to a brand of terrorism that the entire world believed was invincible. As a result we have been able to step boldly into the Year of Freedom.

On the other hand, even in the face of a global financial crisis, we have succeeded in safeguarding our resources and ensuring the prosperity of our people. Our working people have shown great fortitude through all this, and I have no doubt that they have consequently earned the respect and admiration of the entire international working class.

Endeavour to rebuild nation

May Day which is commemorated by the working class world over, is also held in high esteem by fellow workers in Sri Lanka, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayaka said in a May Day message.

It is the duty of the Government to safeguard the rights and privileges workers have won and also to ensure them win new rights.

These workers in turn, while pushing for more rights should contribute to the economic development and prosperity of the country. At a time when Sri Lanka is reaching the end of terrorism which posed a threat to the country's sovereignty, territorial integrity and peace, we are also faced with the scourge of global economic crisis which has affected employment opportunities in particular and the economic development in general.

Notwithstanding all these, we as a Government, are shouldering the gigantic task of rebuilding the country. In this backdrop, we look forward to receiving the unprecedented support of the working class. Therefore the workers should make a determination today to discharge their duties while preserving their rights and contributing to the development of the country.

My greeting goes to these workers who celebrate this May Day with these objectives in mind.

Dedication of all essential for economic development

Labour Relations and Manpower Minister's message:

The working population of Sri Lanka along with the workers world over commemorate the May Day with great prestige. In the said process, they respectively remember the successes they won, the challenges and obstacles they faced in achieving those and the brave leaders of yesterday who provided leadership in those struggles, said Labour Relations and Manpower Minister Athauda Seneviratne in his May Day message.

The message: I take great pleasure in reminding you that several important measures were taken during the last year for the benefit of the working population with the objective of creating a new Sri Lanka under the 'Mahinda Chinthana' program of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

It has to be specially mentioned here that the minimum salary of employees belonging to 40 Wages Boards was increased from 15 to 41 percent benefiting about 35 lakhs of employees. The said increase is between Rs. 5,750 to Rs. 20,000 per month. In addition, the annual increments which were at a very low level were increased up to Rs. 300. Also steps were taken to remove the anomalies of the salaries among different grades of workers.

As a result of the undeterred leadership of President Rajapaksa the terrorist struggle which continued for over 30 years would end thereby dawning true peace which would result in the enhancement of the economy. The economic crisis which exploded in the Western World as a feature of the capitalist economic system is spreading all over the world. It is considered as the worst economic crisis after the great economic depression in 1930s. Its effect in the global economy is very fast, and its ill-effects are being felt in the developing countries like Sri Lanka. As it poses a threat especially to the employment of the working class our object on this May Day is to safeguard the employment of the working class by minimising the effect of this global economic crisis on Sri Lanka.

The International Labour Organisation which commemorates its 90th anniversary this year has pointed out in their 'Global Employment Trends Report - 2009' that in case this global economic crisis develops further, 50 million workers may lose their employment.

The expectation of our Government is to further work for the benefit of the working population although amidst various hardships such as global economic crisis, heavy war expenditure, expenditure which has to be borne for providing food and shelter for our brethren who were rescued after humanitarian operations in the North. Accordingly, we expect to provide further relief and benefits to the working class on this May Day.

At this decisive stage, the co-operation and dedication of all of you is essential for enhancing the economic development of the country.

May Day pays homage to pioneers of TU Movement - Minister Arumugam Thondaman

As traditionally established May Day is considered a dawning of the New Year to the working people all over the world barring just a few countries who nevertheless celebrate May Day on a different date, states General Secretary of the Ceylon Workers Congress and Minister of Youth Empowerment and Socio Economic Development Arumugam Thondaman in a May Day release.

May Day is associated with an occasion to pay homage to those pioneers of the Trade Union Movement who had at immense sacrifice to themselves made it possible for workers to enjoy the fundamental rights of Freedom of Association and the Right to Bargain Collectively and enhance their quality of life.

"Looking at May Day from this stand point, as far as the workers in Sri Lanka generally and the plantation workers in particular are concerned, an image that springs into focus is that of our late leader Savumiamoorthy Thondaman who had led the Ceylon Workers Congress with such distinction until his demise in October 1999. He had left a legacy of a dynamic, constructive and an innovative Trade Union in the form of the CWC which has continued to serve the interests of the plantation workers and the Indian Tamil community to keep pace with the constantly evolving socio economic spectrum of Sri Lanka and of the international field."

"In the context of the grim spectre of the ramifications of the global economic downturn including the down sizing of enterprises, the only bastion that the workers have is to strengthen their Trade Unions." "In this regard the CWC calls upon, particularly the plantation workers to rally round the Organisation under its wide ranging umbrella and continue to give it the strength in order to sustain its bargaining power and consequent benefit to its membership.

"Therefore, on this May Day 2009 I wish to convey to the workers all over notwithstanding boundaries of ethnic origin, grater unity and inclusive strength in order to safeguard their Organisation and therefrom all democratic traditions and lifestyle institutions."

True freedom comes when all unite - Western Province Governor S. Alavi Mowlana

On this momentous occasion in history our motherland is on the threshold of a united nation. We are on the verge of achieving complete freedom for all our people with the total eradication of all forms of terrorism.

No longer shall our people be divided on the lines of caste, creed or religion. True freedom comes when all of us living in this wonderful country can identify ourselves as Sri Lankans. The moment has come.

On this historic May Day all men and women who form the working class must stand up and salute President Mahinda Rajapaksa the leader of our nation for his single minded pursuit in freeing the motherland from terrorism.

We owe him a deep debt of gratitude.

I would be failing in my duty if I do not place on record my gratitude to our security forces who are at present involved in the largest hostage rescue operation history has ever known after they had sacrificed life and limb in eradicating terrorism from this blessed land of ours from the clutches of the most vicious terrorist organization in the world.

So, on this propitious date of international workers day, I convey my sincere greetings and best wishes to all working people and to our Security Forces.

I heave a sigh of great relief when I see the dreams of past leaders of Sri Lanka coming true - the dream seeing a united Sri Lanka with the emancipation of the working class. I have seen both sides of the divide - that of capitalism and socialism.

Now we see with great delight the self destruction of capitalism and the emergence of the socialist progressive forces. With my deep passionate involvement over half a century of class struggle I can today see the country in a different light.

Every thing is changing and it happened overnight. The future is bright. Thanks to the workers might. For the achievement of these goals were surely as a result of the courage, determination and patriotic fervour of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who indelibly carved his name in gold in the annals of the nations history for future generations to savour.

Hail thee Oh working class!

'Let's make our nation a home of peace' - Minister Muralitharan

Minister of National Integration V. Muralitharan in a May Day message states: May Day being workers day of world civilization let us, determine to break all the chains of ignorance and thus exploitations as well. Let's do our duties and fight for our rights and make our nation a home of peace.

Working class should unite - UPWU

S. Duraisamy Maskeliya group corr

Secretary General of the United Plantation Workers' Union (UPWU) and Ceylon Plantation Workers' Red Flag Union O.A. Ramiah said, May Day is the Day of International working class.

It is being celebrated this year in the midst of worst global economic crisis, that affected the working class in Sri Lanka also.

Millions of workers have lost their jobs in the world. The working class and the trade unions were facing tremendous challenges, in this international and local scenario.

We call upon the working class to unite to face this crisis and we call upon the Government and the employers to have serious dialogue to face these problems.

Workers on plantations face hardships in view of the high cost of living.

The Collective Agreement on wages had ended. So the workers, now demand for a fresh agreement for a wage increase. We call upon the Government and the employers to look into this problem soon.

Unions should pay more attention to estate workers

National Union of Workers:

The National Union of Workers feel that apart from expressing their views on the Revision of Collective Agreement, all unions should concentrate on the following:

The UNW from its origin has been agitating for a monthly wage for plantation workers. At the present wage basis a worker turning out for 25 days work would receive Rs. 5,000. Why should we not urge for a monthly wage of Rs. 5,000. Almost all workers are paid the C.L.A. based on the Index. In the plantation sector, the executives receive additional allowance to meet the rising cost of living. The Estate staff are, too, paid this allowance.

All unions should agitate for this privilege. The workers should have the priviledge of having a defending officer at descriplinary inquiries.

Suspension of workers should not be resorted to unless either a preliminary or a domestic inquiry is held.Notice of such inquiries should be made available to the accused worker unions.

Working class has a challenging duty

National Freedom Front:

May Day marks the historic struggle American workers stage in 1886 on a day like this with their demand for an eight hour working day. This struggle came into fruition in 1904 with workers beginning to enjoy this right under the title May Day. Today we are celebrating the 123rd May Day in Sri Lanka.

This year's 'May Day' is unique with one section of the workers - tri forces - dedicated to redeeming the country from LTTE terrorism while the other section - the working class - is providing the necessary moral support to these war heroes despite their hardships.

In this context, we use this day to pay our tribute to the members of the Security Forces and the working class in Sri Lanka.

The working class in Sri Lanka has a challenging duty to build this country by overcoming their problems today.

It will then be able to protect the rights of all Sri Lankans and that of the entire nation.

Make active contribution towards peace, development

The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna:

The Mahajana Eksath Peramuna in a May Day message has called upon the working class to make an active contribution towards efforts to ensure peace, development and the protection of the Motherland and democracy.

The message said May Day which had its origins in Chicago, USA 123 years ago is a great day for the working class.

Message issued under the hand of MEP General Secretary Karunatilleke Dissanayake said it was the MEP Government led by the late Prime Minister SWRD Bandaranaike and the late Philip Gunawardena which declared May Day a public holiday.

May Day this year is more significant for workers than past May Days because the UPFA Government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa had liberated areas dominated by the LTTE terrorists including the East and made systematic efforts to stabilize democracy by conducting Provincial Council elections in stages and obtained a convincing victory culminating in the Western Provincial Council election. On this May Day the MEP and the working masses would resolve to receive their economic issues and honour the heroic Forces involved in safeguarding the country's unity and territorial integrity and remember others who had sacrificed their lives to this cause.