May Day would see the commencement of a struggle by the working masses of Sri Lanka - JVP

Marxist party of Sri Lanka Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) today said the government has failed to address the issues faced by the working masses and charged that the working masses would not allow the implementation of the proposed private sector pension scheme.

The JVP held a May Day procession commencing from S.De S. Jayasinghe ground in Dehiwela around 12:45 pm and held a rally at the BRC ground in Colombo at 3 pm.

Head of the All Ceylon Trade Union Federation, National Trade Union Center, and JVP politburo member K.D. Lalkantha addressing the gathering said the challenges faced by the working masses have increased since the current administration assumed office.

He said the government has failed to increase the salaries of the working masses in line with the ever increasing cost of living.

"The working masses have to fight to stop the implementation of the proposed private sector pension scheme and for an increase in their salaries in line with the rising cost of living," he said.

Lalkantha charged that the government was trying to swindle monies from the private sector workers as well as the existing funds in the guise of introducing a pension scheme for the private sector.

"The public sector pension and that granted to parliamentarians is not deducted from the salaries. Why should the pension scheme proposed to the private sector workers be a contributory fund with no real benefits to the hard working private sector employees?" he questioned.

He said that although the government had the majority in the House to pass the legislation on the proposed private sector pension scheme, the working masses would not allow it to be implemented.

"The May Day will be a starting point to fight against the proposed private sector pension scheme and for a salary increase to all the country's working masses," Lalkantha said.