President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya issued separate messages on Friday to mark the 140th International Workers’ Day, framing labour as the driving force behind Sri Lanka’s recent economic recovery.
In his May Day message, the President said working people were marking the day at “a decisive moment” as the country recorded notable progress in 2025 despite a challenging global climate. He cited the lowest budget deficit since 1977, the highest government revenue since 2007, and export earnings from goods and services exceeding USD 17 billion. Foreign remittances reached a historic high in the same year.
The President expressed gratitude to workers who carried the burden through US tariff measures, Cyclone Ditwah and the war in the Middle East. He listed government measures including increased public sector basic salaries, higher private sector minimum wages, pension rights for public servants recruited after 1 January 2016, and a plantation workers’ wage of Rs. 1,750. The Mahapola scholarship was raised by Rs. 10,000.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya traced Sri Lanka’s labour history from the 1893 printers’ strike through A.E. Goonesinha’s trade union movement and the 1923 Railway Workers’ Strike. She said the government’s core commitment was to a fair working environment, with priorities including a national social protection system that recognises unpaid labour.
Addressing the May Day rally in Nuwara Eliya — the first such rally held in the hill-country town — Dissanayake pledged sweeping action against corruption and declared 2026 a turning point. “2026 will be remembered as the year Sri Lanka sends the corrupt, fraudsters and criminals to prison,” he said, citing strengthened CID and CIABOC institutions, new courts established to expedite cases, and ongoing investigations against former officials and politically connected individuals. He said several cases were already before the courts and more verdicts were expected soon.
The ruling National People’s Power has organised 21 rallies islandwide. The SJB rally is at Maligawatte P.D. Sirisena Ground, the SLFP at Campbell Park in Borella, and the FSP at Hyde Park.
Sources
- NewsFirst — Workers’ Day Marked With Focus On Rights, Economic Stability And Social Security
- Ada Derana — President highlights workers as driving force behind economic progress
- Ada Derana — PM Harini pledges stronger labour rights in May Day Message
- NewsFirst — Political Parties Organize May Day Rallies Across The Country
- Newswire — 2026 to be year of jailing corrupt, says President AKD
