Man is a social being who loves to live in society. Wherever he lives, he has a social life unique to him, shaped entirely by the civilization of his community. Although we in Sri Lanka belong to different nationalities, we are shaped by Sinhala Buddhist civilization. Societies do not remain static; in facing challenges, they inevitably open to others, adopting experiences and traits from external cultures as their own.
Since 1505, Sri Lanka has been under Western imperial domination—first by the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and finally the British, who conquered the entire island in 1815. For over 500 years, our nation resisted imperial rule. Even after gaining independence in 1948, imperialist forces have sought to subdue us through neo-colonialism, yet we have continued the struggle. The fight against imperialism is an unbroken struggle, passed from one generation to the next.
In our generation, the anti-imperialist struggle was grounded in Marxism-Leninism, with Russian culture fueling its growth in our minds. As Sri Lankan youth nourished by Marxist-Leninist philosophy and inspired by Russian literature, we found no living revolutionary fighter in Soviet Russia. Instead, we discovered one in the small, beautiful island of Cuba-the indomitable leader Fidel Castro, embodying true revolutionary humanity.
Today marks his 99th birthday. We never saw him in person, yet we know no other leader who, as a true anti-imperialist, gave his people the strength to stand proudly before the world without bowing to American imperialism. Fidel's example inspired not only the Cuban people but also us, the anti-imperialist forces of Sri Lanka, giving us immense strength.
Today, Fidel's birthday is celebrated in a world without him, yet the strength he imparted has inspired revolutionary leaders across South America. Venezuela's proud defiance of American imperialism owes much to the stimulus of his example. It is undeniable that Fidel's immense spiritual legacy has united anti-imperialist forces worldwide in opposing U.S. aggression against Venezuela.
The strongest proof of Fidel's strength is that the Cuban people foiled 637 U.S. imperialist attempts to assassinate him. Another is that every true anti-imperialist Cuban you meet, anywhere in the world, is a free, humble, and humane person. Thus, we proudly declare that the Bolivarian Solidarity of Sri Lanka joins the world in honoring the indomitable revolutionary of our time, Fidel Castro.
Jeewantha Jayatissa,
The Secretary,
Bolivarian Solidarity of Sri Lanka