President says SLFP never more democratic than today

President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday declared that the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) was never more democratic and open than it is today. 

“I did not take the chairmanship of the SLFP by force. The Central Committee of the party invited me. In the last two years, I succeeded in gradually transforming it into a pure democratic party and I thank the senior leaders who extended me their support in this endeavour,” Sirisena told the SLFP May Day Rally in Getambe in Kandy.

He said the widely attended and successful May Day rally has given a boost to the victorious forward march of the SLFP-led leftist progressive forces in the country. 

He vowed to transform the SLFP into a pure, corruption-free, progressive and democratic political force which would emerge victorious. He pointed out that the SLFP was burdened with corruption and malpractices and faced electoral defeats in 2015.

“You placed your trust in me as the President of the SLFP. The people placed their trust in me as the common candidate at the Presidential Election in 2015,” he added.

Sirisena said that as the trade union leaders pointed out the working class received many benefits and privileges during the last two years and added that the SLFP was a political party which always listened to the genuine demands of the workers as a party that represents the working class of the this country. “The SLFP policy is to strengthen indigenous producers, workers, peasants, fishermen and other sections of the working class,” he said.

“Today the word labourer is not used. Instead, we say skilled workers. Today the skilled workforce is an important asset of any developed country,” he said. The Government is fully aware of the importance of the people who serve the nation with their labour and is fully committed to ensuring their welfare, he said.

Emphasising the need for communal amity and harmony, President Sirisena said: “We cannot build a peaceful country by suppressing other communities. If somebody thinks about his own community, forgetting the other communities, this country cannot be built as a prosperous and peaceful country. How much of our unique Sri Lankan feeling was beautifully displayed in the 1940s when we fought for independence? Our Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim leaders fought against the British rule and won the freedom with unity with each other. But after that they separated for power.” 

He pointed out that an intelligent, educated, able, creative and skilled workforce was needed to develop a country and stated that “our country has all these elements which are needed to develop a country.”

Even though some sections of society say politicians and political parties are using May Day, I believe that the workers and the politicians are not two separate entities, and politicians should always listen to the voice of the working class, he stated.

“Today, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party’s Youth Front can fulfill its duties and responsibilities in an independent and free environment,” he said, adding that there are no “princes” or “madams” and all are equal.

The policy declared by the Government to introduce 84 days of maternity leave, which is currently given to public servants, should also be extended to the private sector as well as female shop employees, the President said.

Minister Dr. Sarath Amunugama presented the economic policies of the Government at the rally. He said the Government was totally committed to protecting, preserving, strengthen and sustaining local agriculture, strengthening local industries, minimising the import of products which could be locally produced and ensuring a knowledge-based, innovative economy and sustainable development. 

He thanked President Sirisena for the efforts taken to reduce poverty by declaring 2017 the Year of Alleviation of Poverty and implementing programs to ensure every citizen was a stakeholder of the economy by opening new opportunities for all.

Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa presented the environment policy and two other policies were presented by ministers Susil Premajayantha and S.B. Dissanayake. 

The SLFP Youth Organisation President Shantha Bandara presented the youth policy. The policy with regard to women was presented by Sumedha Jayasena. All of the presented policies were unanimously approved.