May Day messages

Sri Lanka celebrates May Day in brotherhood - Minister Gamini Lokuge

I am pleased to see all Sri Lankans celebrating May Day 2013 in brotherhood under the 'nation building May wave' theme, states Labour and Labour Relations Minister Gamini Lokuge in a message.

The message added that as the Labour and Labour Relations Minister, his obligation is to make workers shareholders of economic development by creating industrial peace through a good working environment and increasing labour productivity. The ministry has endeavoured to achieve this objective throughout the past and the victories achieved is a victory of the working class.

The ministry is relieved to have been able to increase worker salaries by 25 to 40 percent in the past through the Wages Boards.

Regulations are being formulated to restore worker rights lost due to deployment on contract basis.

On the directions of the President, the ministry has been able to grant gratuity payments to employees who retired from the SLTB service.

Another victory was the ability to regain GSP facilities from the US with the joint cooperation of the BOI, and the departments of Trade and Labour.

The message said the working class is enjoying the benefits of collective agreements made in production and service institutions due to the initiatives taken by President Mahinda Rajapaksa during his tenure as the Labour Minister.

Now that 30 years of terrorism had ended, workers are able to engage in duties at workplaces without fear or suspicion.

It should be mentioned with pride that we have been able to obtain the maximum contribution of the working class towards Sri Lanka's march to become an Asian Miracle under the guidance of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Road to development is our goal - Governor Alavi Mowlana

The labour movements worldwide has a cherished history and unblemished traditions. Due and rights of a worker has been obtained with the blood and sweet of a neglected lot of a society, said Western Province Governor and Senior Vice President of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party Alavi Mowlana in a May Day message.

The message: It is an occasion for us to recall sufferings and hardships of our pathfinders. We cannot evade duty and obligation that go with our assigned job. All of us together should discharge of duties to obtain optimal results in our efforts. Today in the context of Sri Lankan situation, workers will have to be well vigilant of foreign interventions. There are many forces working day-in and day-out to destabilize country and its people. New threats have arisen after defeating terrorist movements.

As a senior trade-unionist, I am aware of the pit falls that the country should face, if we are to slack and uninterested in our country affairs. All should join hands and work for the development of the country.

Determined to carry forward working class victories - Mahajana Eksath Peramuna

We join hands with the working class worldwide in celebrating May Day this year.

Today, we resolve to carry forward the working class victories gained by our pioneer left leaders, such as, Philip Gunawardena, Dr N M Perera and Dr S A Wickramasinghe with brotherhood and march forward by identifying the conspiracies hatched by the imperialist camp and overcoming the betrayals of local and foreign reactionary groups, said the Mahajana Eksath Peramuna in a May Day message.

The message: The working class should recall the freedom, sovereignty and victories gained for them by the 1956 Mahajana Eksath Peramuna government led by late leaders, such as, Prime Minister S W R D Bandaranaike, Philip Gunawardena and D A Rajapaksa by rallying the five fold forces together.

The government led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa has brought security for the people, including the working class by eradicating LTTE terrorism from the motherland.

While paying attention to problems confronting the working class, we urge the government to grant permanency to workers who have completed 180 working days, intervene to safeguard the rights of Sri Lankan expatriate workers abroad and safeguard the rights especially of women workers. We also urge the government to set up follow up committees in state institutions to cut waste and increase productivity.

On this historic occasion, we also remember the departed war heroes who laid drown their lives in defence of the nation by defeating terrorism.

Let us also offer strength to President Mahinda Rajapaksa who wiped out terrorism through his fearless leadership.

The working class is celebrating May Day in the face of the economic crises faced by the capitalist system.

The MEP will dedicate itself to bring more benefits to the working class from the systematic economic growth attained by the country.

Progressive forces for pro-people reforms - Democratic Left Front

The 2013 May Day dawns when the public is faced with Social, Political and Financial challenges ahead of them. Our sole ambition is to defeat such obstacles, and we put our heart and soul behind it to ensure that we emerge victorious in obtaining the necessities which are essential to the working public, the milestones on the path towards pro-people reforms, Democratic Left Front Secretary Vasudeva Nanayakkara in a May Day message said.

The message: The working class is faced with the increasing cost of essential goods due to the high rate of inflation.

The increase in salaries cannot match the rate of inflation. The increased electricity and fuel charges, gas prices and bus fares add onto the costs and we believe that a salary increase to match up to the increase in cost of living index is inevitable.

Although several steps have been initiated to make changes to the electoral system, we have to expedite the process. The necessity arises at this juncture to "see" the dawn of a democratic administrative structure with complete power being assigned to Parliament.

The main reason for the public not being able to share the dividends/derive the benefits of development is due to the interference of countries with imperialistic ideologies and neo-liberal economic policies in our country's affairs.

Welfare facilities could be granted to ease the burden of the public and we could progress as a country.

We have to lead the way and strengthen the hand of the UPFA Government to defeat the interference of Western Countries with "rightist ideologies". The government imposes indirect taxes on goods. This causes a major increase in prices of essential goods at a rapid rate and the public who lead their lives on monthly wages, daily wage earners like the pavement hawkers, self-employed personnel, and poverty stricken people, have fallen into dire straits.

Change to the tax structure/policies, is a must at this juncture.

Increased GDP brings increased per capita - Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya

We are celebrating May Day this year at a time the country has reached a decisive crossroad, states Sri Lanka Nidahas Sevaka Sangamaya General Secretary Leslie Devendra in a May Day message.

The message added that even through the people are enjoying the benefits of peace after ending 30 years of terrorism, it was evident that local and international enemies were launching a massive conspiracy against the government and the people. Fruits of the massive development drive launched by the government have begun unfolding systematically. The country had maintained an 8 percent economic growth for two consecutive years which helped increase per capita GDP of 2,836 US dollars and reduce unemployment to 4.2 percent.

But the unaffordable increase of the prices of essential goods had become a problem. Although prices of certain goods were dependent on international market forces, we don't believe that imposing heavy burdens on the public was justifiable.