The 136th birth anniversary commemoration of Ho Chi Minh, the founder of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, was held this morning at the auditorium of the Colombo Public Library.
The event was organized by the Sri Lanka–Vietnam Solidarity Association and was held under the patronage of the Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Phan Kieu Thu.
During the ceremony, floral tributes were paid at the statue of Ho Chi Minh located within the Colombo Public Library premises. Among those who paid tribute were Ambassador Phan Kieu Thu, officials of the Vietnamese Embassy, Secretary of the Sri Lanka–Vietnam Solidarity Association S. Sudasinghe, Communist Party of Sri Lanka Secretary Dr. P. Weerasinghe, Chief Organizer of the Joint Opposition of the Colombo Municipal Council M. Mansil, Colombo Public Librarian Ramani Gangabadarachchi, and a large gathering of invitees.
Addressing the event, Ambassador Phan Kieu Thu stated that Ho Chi Minh had visited Sri Lanka three times and highlighted the strong ties between the two countries spanning nearly five decades. She also noted that the recent visit of Vietnam’s current President to Sri Lanka was historic, as it marked the first time a General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam had visited the country.
Born on May 19, 1890, in Kim Lien village of Nghe An Province in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh’s original name was Nguyễn Sinh Cung. The name “Ho Chi Minh,” which he later used while in exile in China, eventually became his official name.
He founded the Communist Party of Vietnam and later established the “Viet Minh” independence movement on May 19, 1941, coinciding with his 51st birthday, with the aim of liberating Vietnam.
Following the victory of the August Revolution against French colonial rule in 1945, Ho Chi Minh proclaimed Vietnam’s independence on September 2 at Ba Dinh Square and became the first President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. He passed away on September 2, 1969.
At the event, Mohamed Iqbal performed a commemorative song dedicated to Ho Chi Minh.
