A ceremony to launch the construction of a monument dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh was held in the capital city of Sri Lanka, Colombo, on July 15.
President Ho Chi Minh Monument in Sri Lanka (Source: Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka)
Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka Ton Sinh Thanh looked back on the life and great revolutionary career of President Ho Chi Minh, the beloved leader of Vietnamese people, a national hero and a UNESCO-recognised world cultural celebrity.
During his life, he visited Sri Lanka three times, in 1911, 1928 and 1946, and had close ties with Sri Lankan people.
Colombo Governor A. J. M. Muzammil emphasised that the building of the Ho Chi Minh Monument in Sri Lanka is not only to respect the great leader of Vietnam, a world famous historical figure, but also an honour of the people of Sri Lanka and Colombo city in particular.
He pledged to create all possible conditions to soon complete the monument.
In his speech, Sri Lankan Minister of Human Resources DEW Gunasekara, who is also Secretary General of the Sri Lankan Communist Party, sang the praise of the great life and career of President Ho Chi Minh, who led Vietnam to victory in its national liberation.
Describing Ho Chi Minh as an endless inspiration to depressed countries worldwide and an encouragement for them to rise up for national independence and happiness of mankind, he said people all over the world, including from Sri Lanka, admire President Ho Chi Minh.
The minister added that the Ho Chi Minh Monument in Colombo will become an everlasting symbol of the traditional friendship between the two countries and their peoples.
The half-length monument, designed by sculptor Tran Van Lam, is located in a 380 square metre area and expected to be completed at the end of this year.
A Vietnam-Ho Chi Minh space will also be set up in Colombo Library as part of the project’s framework.
On the occasion, the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group, one of the project’s sponsors, presented a number of pieces of equipment to the library.
During the ceremony, a documentary film about President Ho Chi Minh’s life was also screened.-VNA