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“All the achievements of today’s working people were made under a progressive Sri Lanka Freedom Party Government. May Day was declared a Public Holiday for the first time under the Government of the late Prime Minister, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike.” The President referred to the other benefits that accrued to the working masses during the tenure of the Leftist Alliance led by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, such as the establishment of the Employees Provident Fund, the Labour Tribunals, and the extension of Trade Union Rights. We must resolve to protect the Labour Movement built with many a sacrifice, she said. The President warned against the politicisation of the Labour Movement. She said today various political forces have emerged by using the working class as a tool. With the emergence of an open economy in 1978, the private sector of the country has become the main engine of the local economy. With the globalisation of the economy, countries such as ours can survive only if there is no rift in the relations between the Employee - Employer – State. “I earnestly do hope that all of you will contribute in full measure to the economic development of the country, having recognised this reality. Our standard of living can only be improved by raising the level of the domestic economy, not by staging strikes to win petty demands. The working people should not become pawns in the hands of political forces aiming at fulfilling their narrow ulterior objectives.” “The national crisis we face today is not new; the war raging in the North for about two decades has cost the nation valuable lives and millions of rupees. At a time when this crisis has turned into an economic crisis, I am confident that the working class would be intelligent enough and not fall prey to the invisible hands of the political messiahs.” “Today’s working class is educated and knowledgeable, therefore, I wish you all the strength to distinguish the friends of the working class from the foes.”
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