(1) Senior General Than Shwe attends inauguration of new Bagan Archaeology Museum
YANGON, 17 Apr - New Bagan Archaeology Museum, which was built in the compound of Bagan Archaeology Museum near Gadotpalin Pagoda in the ancient city of Bagan, NyaungU Township, NyaungU District, Mandalay Division, was inaugurated this morning.
The inauguration ceremony was graced by of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe.
Also present were Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Members of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Rear-Admiral Nyunt Thein and Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Commander of the Central Command Maj-Gen Ye Myint, Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin, Minister for Military Affairs Lt-Gen Tin Hla, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, Minister for Culture U Win Sein, Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi, Chief of Staff (Air) Col Myint Swe, Director of Military Engineers Brig-Gen Win Aung Tint, Commander of No 101 Light Infantry Division Brig-Gen Aung Thein Lin, Chairman of Magway Division Peace and Development Council Col Thein Zaw, directors-general, managing directors and officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departments and enterprises, departmental officials of Mandalay and Magway Divisions, district and township authorities, teachers and pupils, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, Red Cross, Auxiliary Fire Brigades and Maternal and Child Welfare Association, cultural song and dance troupes and guests.
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(2) Continuous endeavours being made to restore peace in entire nation as mark of Government's historic accomplishment
Armed group led by KNU CEC member Phado Aung San pledge to live together as good, loyal citizens
YANGON, 17 Apr - An armed group led by KNU Central Executive Committee member Phado Aung San exchanged arms for peace at a ceremony held this morning at Hpa-an Township Technical High School in Kayin State.
Chairman of Work Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended it and looked into the needs in resettling the armed group members and families.
Accompanied by Minister for Industry 2 Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe Minister for Home Affairs Col Tin Hlaing, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Deputy Minister for Education Brig-Gen Soe Win Maung, Deputy Minister for Construction Brig-Gen Thura Aye Myint, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Brig-Gen Khin Maung, Deputy Minister for Electric Power Brig-Gen Maung Maung, senior military officers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of departments and officials, the Secretary-1 helicoptered to Hpa-an.
On arrival at Hpa-an at 10.30 am, they were welcomed by member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Mon State Peace and Development Council Commander of South-East Command Brig-Gen Myint Aung, Commander of No 22 Light Infantry Division Col Kyaw Thu, Commander of No 44 LID Col Nay Win, Chairman of Kayin State Peace and Development Council Col Saw Khin Soe, local authorities, departmental personnel, members of Union Solidarity and Development Association and Tatmadawmen and families.
Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt presented gifts to Phado Aung San and members of the group at the ceremony which began in the school sports ground at 11 am.
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(3) Htidaw hoisted atop Mya Pagoda
YANGON, 17 Apr - With the patronage of Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and Dr Khin Win Shwe, officiating General Staff Officer (Grade I) Maj Myint Aung Kyaw and Daw Khin Mar Kyu hoisted Htidaw atop Mya Pagoda of Maha Hsaywingaba Arleinngahsint Kyaung in Insein Township this morning.
Present on the occasion were Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and Dr Khin Win Shwe.
Maj Myint Aung Kyaw and family also presented Shwethingan to the upper tier of the pagoda and reordained Missionary Sayadaw U Agga Dhamma.
It was his 702nd reordination.
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(4) Officials arrive to attend FAO Regional Conference
YANGON, 17 Apr - Assistant Director for South-East Asia of FAO Dr Soetattwo Hadiwigeno and representative of Nepal Dr Mukti Narayan Shrestha arrived here by air this evening to attend the 24th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific.
They were welcomed at Yangon International Airport by FAO Resident Representative Dr Prem Nath, U Nay Myo Hla, official of FAO Office for Asia and the Pacific, Secretary of 24th FAO Regional Conference Organizing Work Committee Director-General of Agricultural Planning Department Dr Mya Maung, Charge d' Affaires ai of Embassy of Nepal Mr Durga Bahadur Subedi and officials.
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(5) Officials of DCI leave for Australia
YANGON, 17 Apr - Deputy Director-General U Kyaw Win and Assistant Director Daw Mi Mi Khaing of Department of Cultural Institute left here by air for Australia to attend a workshop on art museum of ASEAN and Australia from 18 April to 2 May.
They were seen off at Yangon International Airport by the Director-General of DCI, officials and families.
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(6) Paritta water New Year's gift for Yangonnites
YANGON, 17 Apr - Paritta water was poured into four main lakes supplying water to Yangon on Myanmar New Year Day today for all the people of Yangon to be safe and free from harm and danger.
Sayadaws recited parittas at Phugyi, Gyobyu, Hlawga and Ngamoeyeik lakes and poured the paritta water into the lakes as a safeguarding measure for all the city dwellers.
State Ovadacariya and Vice-Chairmen of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Sayadaw Bhaddanta Panindabhivamsa and Sayadaw Bhaddanta Suriyabhivamsa, Joint Secretary Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kesara and other Sayadaws recited parittas at Phugyi Lake in Hmawby Township in the afternoon.
The Sayadaws, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor of Yangon U Ko Lay, Vice-Chairman of YCDC Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa and officials poured the sacred water into the lake.
They also dispensed metta.
The congregation received the Five Precepts from Sayadaws.
Merits gained were shared.
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(7) National cultural troupe tours Bago
YANGON, 17, Apr - Cultural troupes of Kayah, Naga and Rakhine nationals, together with officials, went to Bago this morning.
They arrived here at the invitation of Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
They visited Shwethalyaung Buddha Image, Maha Pagoda, Shwemawdaw Pagoda,
Hinthagon Pagoda and construction site of Kambawzathadi Palace.