President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday said he would not retire in 2020. 

Addressing the SLFP May Day rally in Chenkaladi, President Sirisena said he would not resign in 2020 as there was a lot more to be done. 

"Many people talk about 2020. Some people dream about coming to power in 2020. Some websites speculate I will retire in 2020. But, I must state that I have no intention to retire in 2020. There is a lot more to be done," the President said. 

He added that the country needed a new political agenda that had no room for crime and corruption. 

"How many honest politicians are there in this country?" the President asked. "We need political leaders who are not scoundrels and criminals. We need political leaders who stand for national unity." 

The President said only his camp had a programme to strengthen national unity and resolve issued faced by the poor. 

"There are many who dream about coming to power. Gaining power is easy. But, do they have a plan to resolve these complex issues?" Sirisena asked. 

Many political observers, however, said this year May Day rally was the SLFP's worst attended May Day rally in recent history.