Whatever the achievements that had hitherto been made by the working people of Sri Lanka had been made under a progressive Sri Lanka Freedom Party Alliance Government says President Chan-drika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in her May Day message.

It was under the Government of the late Prime Minister S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike that for the first time the May Day was declared a Public Holiday.

Additionally the magnificent achievements secured by the working people are the establishment of the Employees’ Provident Fund and the Labour Tribunals, and the extension of Trade Union Rights for the well-being of the workers etc.

All of us must resolve to protect the Labour Movement built by the Leftist Alliance led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party with many a sacrifice, marching forward through the vision raised by the Five Great Forces comprising Sangha (Buddhist Clergy), Native Physicians, Teachers, Farmers and Workers and its victories.

Like all the other movements the Labour Movement, too has become politicized. At a time like this, today various political forces have come on the stage to assume power by using the working class as a tool.With the closed economy that prevailed in the country in the three decades of the 53 years after Sri Lanka attained independence, changing over to an open economy in 1978, the Private Sector of the country became the main engine of the local economy.

With the globalization of the economy now underway world over, the countries like Sri Lanka can survive only if there is no rift in the relations of the Employee - Employer - State tripartite to enchance the overall productivity of the economy.

I earnestly do hope that all of you will contribute in full measure to the economic development of the country, having recognized this reality. Our standard of living can only be improved by raising the level of the domestic economy, but not by staging strikes to win petty demands having become pawns in the hands of the political forces who are aiming at fulfilling their narrow ulterior objectives.

The national crisis we are facing today is not one that arose today or recently. The war now raging in the North for about two decades has succeeded in devastating the national wealth in millions. At a time when this crisis has turned into an economic crisis, I am confident that the working class would be intelligent enough to remain without getting into the grip of the invisible hand of the political Messiahs, I have referred to earlier.

The modern working class is more educated and knowledgeable than before, and therefore, in conclusion I wish you all the strength to distinguish the friends of the working class from their enemies.