President Win Myint became the first ever president to attend the Martyrs’ Day ceremony in over 50 years by attending and paying homage to the fallen martyrs at 72nd Martyrs’ Day held yesterday.

The then head of state General Ne Win attended martyrs’ day ceremony for the last time in 1963 under the rule of the military regime in the name of Revolutionary Council and then no head of states attended this ceremony and paid homage to the fallen martyrs since then.

After the civilian government took over power in 2010, the then presidents Thein Sein and Htin Kyaw did not attend the martyrs’ day ceremony to pay homage to the fallen martyrs. Only the vice-president attended this ceremony as the highest ranking official holding public office.

The martyrs’ day held yesterday was attended by President Win Myint, Vice-President Myint Swe, House of Representatives Speaker T. Khun Myat, House of Nationalities Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than, Union Chief Justice Tun Tun Oo and C-in-C of Defence Services Senior. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing and they paid homage to the fallen martyrs at this ceremony.

Moreover family members of these fallen martyrs including the State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of Bogyoke Aung San, attended this ceremony too and paid homage to the fallen martyrs. Senior government officials, political parties, responsible persons from foreign missions in Myanmar were seen.