NPP News

(-2025.06.06 – Colombo-)

The launch of the Cluster Health Information System (CHIS) began at the Thambuttegama Base Hospital. This marks a big step forward in digitizing our country’s healthcare system.

CHIS is introduced under the Primary Healthcare Digitalization Project. This is a major change in how primary healthcare is delivered in Sri Lanka. The official launch took place yesterday (05) at the Thambuttegama Base Hospital.

This system helps us manage resources better. It supports a more organized and complete care service. It also allows us to make quicker decisions based on real data.

CHIS connects hospitals and clinics around a main hospital that offers specialist care. Doctors and nurses in the network can access patient records, X-rays, lab results, prescriptions, and medical history in one place. This helps provide faster and more accurate treatment.

The system was developed with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) under the Health System Enhancement Project (HSEP). ADB has also funded and supported the technical side of this new health information system.

Hospitals in Galnewa, Eppawala, Thalawa, Rajanganaya Yaya 5 and Yaya 7, Negampaha, Katiyawa, and the Medical Officers of Health offices in Galnewa, Thalawa, and Rajanganaya are now linked with the Thambuttegama Base Hospital through this system.

Our Ministry plans to expand this system to connect all government hospitals across the country in the coming phases. After launching the system, we also toured the Thambuttegama Base Hospital.

The event was joined by Deputy Director General (Medical Services) Dr. Arjuna Thilakaratne, Director (Health Information) Dr. Palitha Karunapema, Director (Primary Health) Dr. Sarathchandra Kumarawansa, Director of North Central Provincial Health Services Dr. Nelum Samaruthilaka, Director of Anuradhapura Regional Health Services Dr. Chandana Kedangamuwa, Head of Health Sector for Sri Lanka and Maldives, ADB, Dr. Kumari Navaratne, Senior Social Development Officer Herath Banda Jayasundara, Director of the Primary Health Services Digitalization Project Dr. Anil Dissanayake, other health staff, and members representing local councils.

(-2024.05.01 – Colombo-)

Today is a day of glory for all working people around the world. With heartfelt respect, I join you in celebrating May 1st, International Workers’ Day. On behalf of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC), I extend to you our sincere greetings, best regards and highest tributes.

Brothers and sisters, please take a moment to look at your hands. You will find the fragrance of tea leaves on the hands of our sisters in the tea factories, the stains of hard labour on the hands of our workers and the dust of chalk on the hands of our teachers. In China, the hands of workers and farmers carry the scent of rice.

Although China and Sri Lanka are distinct nations, the people of both countries share a common purpose. They nourish our families, strengthen our political parties, advance our nation, and shape our futures.

Sixty years ago, you played a crucial role in establishing the JVP, and throughout the years, your relentless efforts have fortified the organization, ultimately leading to the formation of the National Peoples’ Power. Eventually last September you won the Presidential election, a new milestone in the history of Sri Lanka.

At this moment your hands are building a new Sri Lanka. Over the past eight months under the leadership of President Disanayake and the support of all JVP and NPP members, your hands are bringing great change to this nation. In politics, you are creating a new culture of integrity, service, accountability and transparency. You have formed the smallest Cabinet in the history. The economic, industry and tourism sectors are reviving. The Clean Sri Lanka initiative and the Digital Sri Lanka plans are advancing. In society, prices are falling, jobs are increasing and lives are improving. People of all ethnic groups, faiths and religions live in harmony.

As a comrade, we rejoice in your achievements. We wish you even greater success. ‘Subha Pathum’

Comrades, this year marks the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. For 76 years the CPC has empowered the Chinese people to accomplish remarkable feats through our diligent efforts. China, the world’s second-largest economy, is steadily enhancing its strength and improving living standards each day. In particular, since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012 with the strong leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping with the Unity of the Chinese people we have lifted nearly 100 million rural residents out of poverty, a miracle in human history.

China will keep its economic growth strategy and will remain a leading contributor to global growth and anchor of stability in this turbulent world. Right now under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, 1.4 billion Chinese people are marching forward in our own path to modernisation. We are confident that, with the efforts of the Chinese people, we will create a more promising future.

Comrades, Chinese achievements were made possible with support from Sri Lanka and all our neighbouring countries. We will never forget our brothers and sisters who stood with us through sunshine and storm. Sri Lanka is China’s good neighbour, trusted brother and reliable partner. For 68 years of our diplomatic ties, we have worked hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder showing the world how countries of different sizes can strive together. With the JVP leading in Sri Lanka, fresh initiatives are emerging to support your nation’s development. This creates new avenues for strengthening China-Sri Lanka relations.

Early this year President Disanayake had paid a successful state visit to China, and President Xi Jinping met with him. Together the two Presidents charted a shared vision for the future of our relations and our nations. On the new journey ahead, China will always stand together with Sri Lanka. Hand in hand we will respect and support each other and uphold mutually beneficial cooperation. Shoulder by shoulder we will build China Sri Lanka community with a shared future. Let’s join hands to bring more benefits to our countries and our people. Party-to-party relations are the backbone of the friendship. For decades the Communist Party of China and the JVP have worked side by side. My visit is to implement the important consensus reached by President Xi Jinping and President Disanayake. Through the exchange of CPC and the JVP, the two governing parties of China and Sri Lanka will make China-Sri Lanka relations even stronger. As comrades, we will stick to the principles of mutual respect, mutual support, mutually beneficial cooperation and mutual learning seeking common ground while reserving differences making our friendship deeper and blood relations stronger.

Comrades, please look around your sisters and brothers beside you. They are doctors, teachers, workers, drivers, farmers, and waiters. They have different jobs but everyone is smiling and everyone’s faces are shining with hope. These smiles represent the support for the JVP and NPP, represent the trust in President Disanayake and a good face in a brighter future. Over the three days of my visit here one thing has impressed me and my colleagues most, the smiles of Sri Lankan people. From taxi drivers to Hotel staff, from village farmers to market vendors, all smiled and gave thumbs up for the JVP and NPP and for your nation’s future. One taxi driver smiled and told me, ‘I have got a happy family, three kids, steady work and life is good I support the JVP, NPP and our President.’ I believe his voice is the people’s voice. We also met JVP leaders. They smiled as they recalled the stories of their friendship with the Communist Party of China, where they joined hands with the Communist Party of China to write a new chapter. We are all confident in the brighter future of the friendship between the CPC and JVP, NPP and between China and Sri Lanka.

In conclusion, I wish you a joyful International Workers’ Day. I Wish Sri Lanka a brighter future under the leadership of President Disanayake.

Long live China-Sri Lanka relations, long love CPC, JVP, and NPP friendship.

Thank you very much

(-2024.05.01 – Colombo-)

My dear Comrades

On the occasion of this May Day on behalf of the working class of India and the CPIM I extend revolutionary greetings to the working class and toiling masses of Sri Lanka and the masses world over. Comrades we remember with a pride and reverences the sacrifices of innumerable martyrs including the Haymarket heroes who fought violently for better world. I feel privilege to address this historic May Day Rally conducted by JVP, on behalf of the Communist Party of India Marxist, I extend warm revolutionary greetings and salute the leadership of JVP and NPP who triumph both the Presidential election and the Parliamentary Elections.

We remember in last May Day your leadership said that it was the last May Day under that dominant that ruling classes and the next May Day will be under the ruling of the NPP and you have proven that within six months. Comrades, the developments in Sri Lanka are in inspiration to the working class movement and the left world over and especially in the South-Asian countries.

We are celebrating this International Labour Day today when the neo liberal capitalism is ruling under the unforeseen crisis. It was unable to come out of this systematic crisis of capitalism even in the Citadel in the United States of America. Capitalism has failed to address the problems of the humanity and comrades our assessment made on the basis of the philosophy of sovereignty with Socialism and Marxism have been vindicated under the newly re-elected US President Donald Trump. The US imperialism is now taking annexationist and many aggressive measures leading causing miseries to the people world over including the trade world. It is continuing to it support to Israel and its occupation to Gaza and West Bank in Palestine. Attacks are continuing Yemen and Lebanon. The US through Israel intends to establish its regime over the entire West Asian region.

Comrades, on the occasion of this May Day we stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine and reiterate our commitment to the establishment of Palestine state with a Pre- 1967 Borders and the Jerusalem must the Capital. We denounce the imperialist intervention and the aggressions and stand for world peace. Working class and common people benefit from the peace while the corporates that control the military industrial complex benefit from war. We stand in solidarity with socialist Cuba and the Cuban people who are continuing to resist the more than six decades old economic blockage with the trump, they are facing renewed aggression and it is our duty as a part of the working class internationalism to stand with Cuba.

Comrades, we express our solidarity with all the socialist countries and these people and we express solidarity with all the people fighting imperialism and for their rights. As you are aware, India it is at present govern by one of the most new liberal pro imperialist communal BJP. It is carrying out attacks on the rights of the working class pensioners and the poor and the sections of the society. Democratic rights are curtailed. The federal character of our country is at such a state. The Indian government is on an undeclared Economic blockade against the left front government in Kerala which under the leadership of the CPIM is trying to implement pro people alternative within the limitations of the capitalist system in India.

Moreover, the ruling party and its parent organisations their history and etc. spreading communal venom targeting the minorities and the left. That is the reason why we characterised it and showing the neo-partial characteristics. Under its aggressive implementations of neo-liberal policies the attack is more targeting on the working class. The employment relations both in the organised and unorganised sectors are being continuously restructured to promote extreme fragility and precarious overall employment profile. The government has brought four labour courts in place of the labour laws doing away with all the rights of the working class including the eight hour working day, minimum wages and social security and most importantly the freedom of association and collective bargaining and the trade union rights. These are the rights earned through decades of sacrifices and struggles of peoples and the government is imposing the virtual survey on the working class. But we must say that in spite of these although the least labour courts are passed five years back the working class of our country was able to stall these implementations till now but that government now announced its intention to implement these laws ignoring the descent expressed by the majority of the trade union and the working class of the country. For this reason working class of India under the leadership of joint trade union platform led by the left trade unions including the centre of Indian Trade union has fall for a nationwide general strike on 20^th of May this year.

This strike call is supported by the platform of farmer’s organisations and also receiving a good response from the general public. We are in the midst of the preparations of this general strike and is to make it the biggest ever strike in India and we promise you it will be the beginning of a new face of the working class led counter offensive against this corporate communal nexus. The communal farmers struggle in India. Which lasted more than a year forced the government to withdraw the anti- farmer’s government laws a landmark in the history of the anti-imperial struggle of our country. This struggle has not only inspired the toiling class and the people of our country but it has created an atmosphere, it reviewed the belief in the class unity and the workers present unity with the support of the Trade Unions and then it will be further carried forward by the this platform through this strike . Comrades, at this juncture we should assure you the working people, the working class of Sri Lanka that we will also be following your path in the fight against this imperialist led neoliberal policies and I must say that the left government in Kerala, because of this economic blockage by the government of India we were asked that the Kerala will go the Sri Lankan way when there was a crisis in Sri Lanka. Now we proudly tell to the people that, yes, Kerala will follow the Sri Lankan way not only Kerala, the entire India will be following the Sri Lankan way. Comrades, we are confident that the new government, under JVP and NPP will be living up to the people’s expectations and aspirations and I wish you the all the best and all the success in the Local Government elections as well. We should not be complacent , capitalism in crisis will go to any extent to crush any challenge against it and it is with extreme vigil against these class enemies and compromising to the working class ideology and the working class on the street defending their rights we can move ahead with this path full of challenges. On this occasion of this historic May Day, when you are writing history on this occasion upholding the internationalism we greet the workers and toiling people of Sri Lanka once again and all cadres and leaders of the JVP who made this rally a magnificent huge success in your struggle against the exploitation and oppression and the Indian working class with you always there with you Comrades. Long live May Day. Long live socialism, down with imperialism.

Thank you.

(-2024.05.01 – Colombo-)

My dear Comrades, a red salute to you all.

You all came here to celebrate the great May Day, the day of the working class all over the world. Remember those days when the workers of the world were oppressed and suppressed under the rule of the capitalists? They possessed no rights, endured unlimited working hours and were treated even worse than slaves during that period. It happened in Chicago. We can never forget that day when the workers united, struggled and shouted for eight hours of labour. That is our right. As human beings, we have that right.

But on that day, the capitalists very cruelly suppressed our comrades. How can we forget it? There were trials in the courts of the capitalists in Chicago, America. They were ready to die for the cause of workers. They told the court of the capitalists that a day would come when our silence would become more powerful than your thundering rules. That day has come in Sri Lanka. Our silences have become more powerful. Now, on May Day in Sri Lanka, we have come to celebrate the victory.

It was told here at the last May Day by Anura, our dear leader and the President. He, like a prophet, told us that next year, when we celebrate May Day, it would be a victorious May Day for the people and the workers of Sri Lanka. That day has come.

We remember Marx and Engels, who wrote The Communist Manifesto and in the last part, they declared: “Workers of the world unite. You have nothing to lose but your chains. You have a world to win.” That world will come. For that, we struggled, in country after country, continent after continent; we struggled for that dream, the dream of this victory. One after another, these victories have come true.

We remember those days when the fall of a set of unions happened. They were telling the imperialists, the capitalists, and all those forces were telling that the end of history had come. Workers had no future; the red flag had no future. They said this flag would disappear from the minds of the people because red had disappeared from the world. With that idea in mind, they thundered: “The end of history.” But what happened? History can never end like that. History has to continue, for the victory of the workers. Now, it has happened here.

They shouted in those days: “There is no alternative only one way,” and that way was the American way, the way of the capitalists. They told us there was no other alternative, and that we were wrong, comrades. But we were right, because we have proven that there is an alternative, there is a way out. And Sri Lanka, of late, has shown that way. That way is a promise of an alternative. And this government of the people of Sri Lanka, the JVP government, that government has shown a way for the people of Sri Lanka and for the working people all over the world.

You have shown that if we are united and ready to fight, we will win — and we can never be defeated. That is the importance of May Day in Sri Lanka.

That is why, comrades of India, we feel so proud and happy that we could witness this moment, the participation of comrades, women and men, with red flags in their hearts and hands, coming to celebrate the victory of the people’s struggles. We can celebrate this in the future also.

One more thing to be told here: they will not stay idle. As I was told here, the reaction of the opposition in Sri Lanka are saying that their day will come. They are saying that red must fail in Sri Lanka too. We tell them, this flag will not fail because this is the flag of the workers. This red flag is the flag of the working people and this colour red is the colour of the blood and sweat of those people. That flag, that colour, can never be defeated.

With this conclusion, we are here. They will try their best. Some will try their best. Some of them are threatening the whole world with tariff challenges and tariff burdens. They are saying they will control the world. How can they control the world when people all over the world, the working masses, the toiling people, when all of them have a dream for the future and are ready for a united struggle? It is sure that, whatever they may say, they will fail and we will win.

So, this victory of Sri Lanka, we can tell you, is not only a Sri Lankan story. This is the story of our comrades, the story of the present-day world, the story of the dreams of present-day men and women. And this is the story of the future and that future will come to this world.

Comrades, once again I salute you. I salute you.

Long live May Day!

Long live, long live!

Workers of the world, unite. Red salute!

(- 2025.05.01 – NPP May Day-)

• We are undoubtedly succeeding in the endeavour of nation building and addressing the needs of our citizens
• We possess a legacy of commitment to a single goal despite facing obstacles
• Invite Trade unions to contribute to the success of the nation building efforts

– President emphasizes addressing May Day rally

President Anura Kumara Disanayake emphasized that his political movement, which has successfully navigated the extremely challenging task of gaining power by dedicating itself to one purpose over sixty-five years, will certainly win the challenge of building this country and fulfilling the needs of the people.

The President said that the country is governed today by a movement that is ready to build the country and move forward, and that the time has come for the trade unions in this country to abandon their out-dated practices and adopt new ones, and he invited all trade unions to join hands with the government to make the exercise of building the country a success.

President Anura Kumara Disanayake made these remarks while addressing the National People’s Power May Day Rally held at Galle Face Green today (01).

A huge crowd participated in this public rally held under the theme ‘Rata Hadana Jana Balaya Pela Gasena Mai Raliya’

The President speaking at the rally stated that today, only the National People’s Power exists as a political movement and that the future of this country and the future of the people completely depend on the National People’s Power.

Addressing the May Day rally, the President further said:

We have celebrated May Day for a long time. On each occasion, our expectation has been to rally the people to gain power. Today, for the first time, we are holding a massive rally to gather the people to build this country.

Today, only the National People’s Power exists as a political movement. We all must understand that the future of this country, the future of the people of this country completely depend on the National People’s Power. Nothing else is political movement anymore. They are a pile of wreckage. But voices are heard here and there. They held power for a long time. They did not stop there and drew a power map for their generation. They thought that they would be able to continue to hold power in the hands of their generations and oppress the common people. But on September 21, the people of this country took a very bold decision. The people of this country were able to completely overthrow the power map that had been drawn for many generations and transfer power to the common people. Today, we hear the anguish of losing that power and disappointment.

Also, when they were in power, they squandered the wealth of the public and lived a life of great privilege. They lived a life that was not subject to the common law. They used great power above the common people and held power. But today, they are subject to the common law and have lost their privileges. The law has been implemented equally. Therefore, they are desperate now.

On the other hand, they know better than us the extent of fraud and corruption they have done. And they know who we are. They know us to the extent that they know the extent of their crime. Therefore, there is the anguish of fear. Hence, the other side of politics today is the pain of disappointment, the anguish of losing privileges, and the panic of fear. Therefore, there are no more political movements. There is no ideology and no organizational strength. There is only a collection of scattered parts here and there, not knowing what to do.

Therefore, there is no challenge for us from outside. What is outside of us is a pile of debris, not a challenge. If so, the challenge lies within us. To overcome that challenge, we must understand the contradictions, inconsistencies and failures to adapt to new circumstances within ourselves.

We have a legacy of sixty-five years of dedication to a single purpose. Such a movement is gathered here today. We have a purpose that has not only abandoned those closest to us in the midst of extreme defeats and challenges, but also has not given up even in the midst of building movements while resisting. Therefore, we are a group that inherits and carries on a legacy for a purpose. Sometimes we worked by the power of habit. We worked in the face of distant goals, close challenges and very confusing situations before us. Sometimes we were motivated to work by the power of habit. Now, after all that, on September 21st, we were able to take power into our own hands. Now, what we have is not the power of habit, but the power of belief.

We believe that this country can be built. The people of this country have placed their hopes in us. As a political movement, we and the general public are motivated to work for the same goal. Therefore, we have the power of trust that goes beyond the power delegated by the Constitution that goes beyond the power we have received from Parliament.

We have entered this with the power of trust that if we have overcome the goal of gaining power for 65 years in the face of extreme challenges for one purpose, then we will definitely achieve the building of this country and the fulfilment of the needs of the people. Therefore, we have taken on this task with great confidence.

We must understand the nature of the reality before us. We have a very harsh reality before us. An economy that has collapsed to the bottom, a society in which compassion for others has collapsed, a society in which the law was being run in the way each individual wanted, collapsed institutional systems and a society in which every citizen was disappointed with social responsibilities. We must understand the harsh reality before us. But we are fighting for social justice and social equity. It is a fight that will not be abandoned. But we know that it is a fabric that needs to be woven systematically. Creating social justice and creating social equity is not something that can be done overnight. But we are implementing a very systematic fabric for this social justice and social equity.

We should not expect results in six months after being dragged to the brink of destruction for 76 years. We have understood the extremely harsh reality. Creating a more optimistic future is a much planned endeavour. I assure the people of this country that we will review that effort very strongly and successfully. There are no shortcuts in transforming the harsh reality into a new path. This is a very systematic and planned exercise. We in the National People’s Power have well understood the expectations of the people and the weight of the trust that the people have placed in us. Therefore, we have begun the journey of transforming this destructive society into a society with very sharp social attitudes and an economy with very systematic and planned methods.

We had a country without a foundation. A country that was floating like a ship with a broken mast. A country and a society without a goal and purpose. If we are to change this systematically, we must first create a strong foundation. Therefore, we have been making maximum efforts to create this strong foundation over the past period.

The first of the key pillars of this foundation is clean, untainted politics. After 76 years, Sri Lanka has seen the rise of a political movement that does not steal or waste even a single rupee of public funds. To build on this strong foundation, national unity is essential. At the last general election, the people themselves took the lead. The people of the North and East placed great trust in the National People’s Power and stepped ahead of us. We must acknowledge that our political engagement in the North and East has been minimal, and our communication has primarily been in Sinhala.

Yet, their rejection of traditional political parties and leaders, and the trust they have placed in us, clearly signals the need for national unity. We will never allow these communities to be left behind. We affirm their rights—to their culture, language and ancestral lands—as well as their right to live as citizens of this country. That is the second pillar of rebuilding the nation.

We also need a strong public service. For that reason, we have increased the basic salaries of public servants and are transforming the public sector into an attractive place to work. At the same time, our government—the National People’s Power administration—is working to eliminate the longstanding negligence and inefficiency that have plagued the public service.

We have taken steps to re-establish the supremacy of the rule of law. For the first time in Sri Lanka’s history, a true political transformation has occurred where the law is applied equally to everyone. However, there are still those who cling to the old ways and spread stories based on the past.

But this is a new country. Everyone is subject to the law. Everyone is equal before the law. If anyone still believes that institutions like the Attorney General’s Department, the Criminal Investigation Department or the Bribery Commission are tools used only against ordinary people, they are stuck in the past. We have built a new era—one in which the law applies to all equally.

This transformation is not just institutional or legal—it is practical and real. Our government is sending a clear message that no matter when a crime or act of corruption occurred, there will be consequences. Everyone must fear the law and live under it. That is the foundation and a path to building a society. We have built that path.

Internationally, Sri Lanka was once viewed negatively. But today, step by step, we are gaining international recognition. We have created a government that can stand confidently before the world, asserting our sovereignty and putting the nation first. That’s why the Japanese and the Chinese projects that were halted have been resumed. We have laid a strong foundation for international cooperation.

On this foundation, we are constructing a strong nation one that values equality, justice, social harmony, mutual respect, economic prosperity, environmental sustainability and compassion even towards animals. That is the kind of society we must build.

As a political authority, we have a great responsibility. We understand our duties, our limitations, our strengths and our weaknesses. We rely on those with the capabilities we may lack. Accordingly, we are committed to politics free from corruption, fraud and destruction. But to build upon this foundation, we need real political transformation and we are leading that change.

We invite our entrepreneurs and industrialists to invest. Let us know what support or solutions you need—we will provide them. We have already drawn up plans for Colombo. No commercially valuable land in the city will be left idle during our term. Everything will be used for the country’s development.

Our agricultural lands must also be revived. We expect a new agricultural revolution, where no inch of abandoned farmland remains unused. We are increasing fertilizer subsidies, providing quality seeds, introducing new technology to agriculture and ensuring stable prices. It’s time to cultivate this land again—and we need your support, the farmers of this nation, to rebuild the country. Similarly, we pledge our full support to the fishing community, who bring in harvests from the vast seas. Help us rebuild this country.

Especially, trade unions must now move beyond out-dated ideas. The era of fighting for small issues is over. A political authority has arrived that abandons everything. We are abandoning many things that have been given to us through acts, gazettes, and regulations.

We have worked with you. We understand your expectations. If we didn’t, we wouldn’t have increased your basic salaries. Without you even asking, we raised your basic pay and allowances. We increased disaster loans and disaster allowances. But don’t let a few isolated issues provoke you into protest. That’s not fair.

Today, a movement has arrived that is ready to take the country forward, intervening in building the country. The time has come for the trade unions in this country to abandon their out-dated practices and adopt new ones. Today, there is a political movement that believes that the public service should be strengthened, a political movement that believes that a strong public service is necessary to build this country. Today, there is a political movement that believes that groups with the ability and capacity should be obtained for a strong public service, also, a political movement that believes that their promotion, their future should be given not on politics but on their ability and talent.

Today, the country is being led by a political movement that understands the pulse of the trade union movement—a movement that has worked hand in hand with trade unions, fought for their aspirations, and raised its voice on their behalf. So, what conflict could possibly exist between us? There is no room for discord. We extend an open invitation to all trade union movements to join us in this national endeavour to rebuild the country. Our youthful movement has a great responsibility ahead. The younger generation was once presented with a bleak picture of their future a shattered dream. But today, we are creating a new generation of young people who dare to dream once more.

Be ready to fulfil the responsibility entrusted to you. Let us all come together citizens, artists, writers, fishermen, farmers, entrepreneurs, industrialists and politicians – and strive with unity. Let us build a better country not just for ourselves, but for the generations to come. Let us create a better nation for the children of this country. We have acquired this country, this power for that. Therefore, I say with great responsibility and confidence that there are scoundrels and liars outside. Politics is with us. The challenge is with us. There are no challenges outside.

Today, hundreds of thousands of people from villages across the country have gathered here. I don’t know if my friend has gone and taken charge of the villages—but once the crowd reaches Galle Face, they claim to have “seized the village.” That’s nothing more than empty words. Is that politics? Those political games are over. Political ideologies without substance are over. There is no unity—only deep confusion. At times, what is written isn’t spoken. What is said on one stage is contradicted on another. It’s complete chaos.

That’s why I say—the so-called external challenge is over. What must we do now? We must grow stronger. We must take the people forward and begin the journey of transforming this nation into a truly effective state. A state that can end this struggle in victory, a country with a promising future, a nation where our children’s future is secure. Let us begin that journey with a new step—with renewed energy and direction.

What does the presence of hundreds of thousands gathered here at Galle Face show the world? It sends a clear message: we are ready to take on this challenge. We are ready to rebuild this country. And the most trustworthy movement to lead that effort is the National People’s Power. That is the message—to the country, to the world, and to those clinging to empty spectacles. The future of this nation lies with us.

We must now take a bold new leap forward. That leap can begin on May 6. The President, the Cabinet, Parliament and local councils must work together—united under a single vision. If we are to rebuild this country, political authority must be brought under one unified direction. Today, the President, the Cabinet, and Parliament are under the leadership of the National People’s Power. Therefore, the Local councils and Urban Councils should also be entrusted to the National People’s Power. The people connected to those institutions must stand together. The people connected to these institutions must stand united. All streams of governance must come together in alignment. Just as the central government must be clean and free from corruption, so must our local councils. When that happens, the national government will function effectively, and the local government will deliver results. To make this a reality, we ask for a strong and clear mandate from the people.

(-2024.05.01 – Colombo-)

On May 1st, 1886, during a protest in Haymarket Square, Chicago, workers who demanded an eight-hour workday, was violently confronted with gunfire. To pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in that fight, the Second International, convened in 1889, proclaimed May 1st as International Workers’ Day, which has been observed annually ever since.

This year, the working people of Sri Lanka, together with the general public, commemorate International Workers’ Day at a time when our nation and society are undergoing a profound and progressive transformation under a people-oriented governance bringing an end to a corrupt and elitist political system that has existed for 76 years, upheld by a rotating power structure dominated by a select few influential families across generations. At the recent presidential and parliamentary elections, people from all corners of Sri Lanka, regardless of ethnicity or religion, united to bring about a turning point in our nation’s politics. Responding to the people’s aspirations, we of the National People’s Power currently focused on developing a nation that is experiencing extensive economic, social and political transformation.

We have already succeeded in initiating a stable recovery of an economy that was dragged to the depths by corrupt and elitist system. The evident signs of advancement are now apparent to everyone. In our very first national budget, we made historic moves significantly increasing the minimum basic salary of public servants and extensive benefits for various segments of society, including farmers, fishing community, youth, women, students, producers, small-scale entrepreneurs and professionals alike. We are diligently addressing the persistent issues encountered by plantation workers and striving to guarantee their civil rights.

We recognize the necessity for a new phase in the rights we possess, aligned with the continuously evolving productive forces. Contemporary society demands a new era in human rights that encompasses digital access, environmental rights and other emerging rights that were not anticipated in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. These changes, along with evolving political frameworks and the worldwide call for peace, require a revised and comprehensive global declaration of human rights. As we commemorate this International Workers’ Day, we must remain sensitive to these needs and dedicated to addressing them.

In the face of global geopolitical shifts and growing challenges, it is the working people of Sri Lanka who continue to shoulder the burden of rebuilding our economy. As we restore and reform an economy devastated by decades of corrupt politics, I warmly invite our beloved working people to join hands in solidarity, to rise with determination and to strive towards building “a beautiful life and a thriving nation” for everyone. On this occasion, I offer my heartfelt best wishes for a meaningful International Workers’ Day one that reaffirms the rights and dignity of all working people.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake

President

Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

01.05.2025