The awareness that those who suffer most when peace in the country is destroyed are the working people and their children has made our workers to be patient and support the government in its efforts to defeat terrorism and bring peace to the country. This is a great encouragement towards securing the future of the country, says President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his Message to mark May Day – the International Workers’ Day.

Facing up to the challenges of defeating terrorism, achieving peace and securing the future of the country, the government has implemented policies to provide relief to the working people and bring prosperity to their lives, the President adds.

Here is the text of the President’s Message:

I am pleased to send greetings to the working people of Sri Lanka when the workers of the world proudly celebrate May Day – the International Workers’ Day.

The cooperation extended by the working people towards our efforts to build a prosperous Sri Lanka in keeping with the policies of the Mahinda Chinthana, that give priority to the aspirations of the people to take the country towards major development, is very much valued by me.

Many are the victories brought to this country by the working people, and I am privileged to share this honour with them. I believe they are honoured by our steps to take this country on the correct path of development with a good understanding of the aspirations of the people.

It is a great strength to the country for its working people to be united irrespective of any differences of race, religion, caste and politics. Those who suffer most when peace in the country is destroyed are the working people and their children, and this awareness has made the workers of the country to be patient and support the government in its efforts to defeat terrorism and bring peace to the country. This is a great encouragement towards securing the future of the country.

Facing up to these challenges, the government has implemented policies to provide relief to the working people and bring prosperity to their lives. That is why we act to safeguard the rights of workers in the private sector while strengthening the rights of those in the state sector. It is because this is a pro-people government that we have acted to bring down the prices of a range of consumer items while implementing policies directed at the long-term goal of strengthening the national economy and achieving real freedom for the country. We will continue our strong commitment to safeguard the rights of the working people, and strengthening the economy.

I look forward to the continued cooperation of the working people in meeting the challenges of bringing about lasting peace in the country and strengthening our economy. It is my wish that we will all succeed in building a New Sri Lanka that is beneficial to all.