The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Students for Social Equality (ISSE) call on workers and young people to attend our public meeting in Colombo on May 1 to mark international workers’ day and discuss the vital issues confronting the international working class.

Since the beginning of 2011, after decades of political reaction, workers internationally have come to the forefront of struggles in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in state of Wisconsin in the United States, to defend democratic rights and to halt the deep inroads into living standards. The critical question facing workers is: what road forward?

The breakdown of global capitalism that emerged in 2008 is fuelling rivalries between the major powers and the eruption of neo-colonial adventures. The NATO bombing of Libya by the US, Britain, France and their allies underscores the drive by imperialism to secure control of energy reserves and to suppress the revolutionary uprisings within the region. At the same time, there is a global drive by finance capital to impose the brunt of the continuing economic crisis onto the backs of working people through savage austerity measures.

Sri Lanka is not immune from these processes. The small island is being caught up in the vortex of the great power rivalry, particularly between the US and China. Moreover, the government is now implementing the IMF dictates for deep cutbacks to public spending, including price subsidies, public education and health, that will affect millions of people.

The only means for ending war and guaranteeing democratic rights and decent living standards is through a unified struggle by the international working class to abolish the profit system and establishing a world planned socialist economy. This is the revolutionary perspective that the SEP and its sister parties of the International Committee of the Fourth International fight for. We urge WSWS readers, workers and youth to attend our May Day meeting.

Date and Time: Sunday, May 1, 3.00 p.m.

Venue: New Town Hall, Green Path, Colombo