By NNN-Govt Portal,
Colombo : President Mahinda Rajapaksa, in his May Day message, said that the Government remains committed to affirm the many victories won by the working class in the country.
He also expressed his gratitude to the working class for having extended its support to the Government with patience to overcome the challenge of defeating terrorism and ushering in peace. The full text of the message is as follows:
At this moment when the workers the world over are celebrating May Day with great pride, I have great pleasure in extending my sincere greetings to the working class of our country.
I greatly value and appreciate the co-operation extended to me by the working class to strengthen the Mahinda Chinthana programme introduced to the country giving pride of place to the people’s hopes and aspirations of building a prosperous Sri Lanka and steer the country towards development and progress.
It is my good fortune to have been able to share its pride with the working class of this country.
I believe that the measures taken to steer the country correctly towards development by properly identifying people’s hopes and aspirations of the people is a singular honour to the working class of this country.
The working class has been offering great strength to this country by acting with one voice irrespective of differences as to caste, creed, race or party. We are aware that it was the working class and their offspring who suffered most when there was a breakdown of peace in the country.
It is due to the correct understanding of this situation that the working class was working closely with Government with patience in meeting the challenge of defeating terrorism and ushering in peace for the country. This would greatly help to safeguard the country’s future.
Amidst all these challenges the Government has been implementing policies to grant relief to the working class and make their lives prosperous.
That was why the Government moved to safeguard the rights of private sector workers while strengthening public servants.
You would realise that this is a truly people-friendly Government which has never forgotten the working class because it had taken steps to reduce the prices of essential goods while undertaking a long-term programme to strengthen the indigenous economy and ensure freedom to the country.
The Government will continue to work with dedication to protect and safeguard worker rights and strengthen the country’s economy in the future.
While requesting the continuous support of the working class in overcoming the challenges of ensuring lasting peace and improving the country’s economy, I sincerely hope that we will be able to build a new Sri Lanka that would be beneficial to all.”