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YANGON, 12 Mar - Religious titles were presented to Sayadaws, members of the Sangha, nuns and lay persons for their outstanding performance in the religious sector at a Ceremony at Maha Pasana Cave, Kaba Aye, at noon today.
The State Peace and Development Council issued Notification No 2/98 on 4 January 1998 to confer the religious titles on the Sasana Arzanis for excellent performance in patronage, religious teaching and delivering sermons for promotion and propagation of Sasana.
Present were State Ovadacariya Sayadaws, member Sayadaws of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee and the State Central Working Committee of the Sangha, religious title recipient Sayadaws from home and abroad, members of the Sangha, nuns and lay persons, Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye and wife, Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and wife, Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo and wife, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen Win Myint and wife members of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Rear-Admiral Nyunt Thein, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Maj-Gen Kyaw Than and Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen Tin Tun, ministers, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, the acting Auditor-General, the Yangon Mayor, senior military officers, deputy ministers and their wives, members of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council, district and township authorities, members of religious associations, disciples of the religious title recipient Sayadaws, well-wishers and special guests.
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(2) Building of Ye-Dawei Railroad in progress
YANGON, 12 Mar - Minister for Rail Transportation U Pan Aung supervised work at Ye-Dawei Railroad Project from 7 to 10 March.
Accompanied by Col Min Swe of Dawei Station, Managing Director of Myanma Railways U Kyaw San and officials, he chose the site to build a railway station in Kanbauk, attending to the needs of the personnel for timely completion of bridges on the road and rail, sleeper and chipping laying and for the project to meet the required standard.
The next day, the minister inspected progress in cutting Mahlwetaung Hill, building of bridges and final touches in laying of rails, sleepers and chippings between Paukpingwin and Gangaw-taung.
On 9 March, he observed the railway between Koemaing and Chaungdaung stations which is under operation.
He attended to the needs in starting Ye Bridge Project in early fiscal 1998-99. The bridge will link Ye and Chaungdaung.
After inspecting Ye-Thanbyuzayat Railway, he met MR staff in Thanbyuzayat Railway Station.
The minister also inspected the condition of rails and bridges between Thanbyuzayat and Mawlamyine.
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(3) Buddhist devotees throng pagodas on Taboung Fullmoon Day
YANGON, 12 Mar - Today, being the Fullmoon day of Taboung, famous pagodas here were packed with devotees offering dawn soon, lights, joss sticks and scented water to the Buddha as offertories.
At dawn, devotees not only from various regions of the country and the city paid homage to the Shwedagon and offered soon.
A ceremony to share merits gained for the good deed of holding the 2586th Anniversary Buddha Pujaniya Festival of the Shwedagon was held in the Chanthagyi Tazaung of the pagoda.
Ovadacariya Sayadaw of the Shwedagon Padana Nayaka Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Rajindabhivamsa of Thirimantasan Kyaung of Bahan Township administered the Nine Precepts.
Chairman of Management Committee for Holding Buddha Pujaniya Festival Member of Pagoda Board of Trustees U Thant Zin supplicated on matters related to the festival.
Then, members of Pagoda Board of Trustees and well-wishers presented offertories to the Sayadaws.
The Ovadacariya Sayadaw delivered a sermon and merits gained were then shared.
Beginning at daybreak, the pagoda was crowded with devotees-paying homage to the Buddha, counting beads and offering flowers, fruits and water.
Similarly, the Buddhist people paid homage to 28 Buddha images at Aryonkhan Tazaung of Sule Pagoda and offered Shwekya Thingan and light.
From dawn to night, Botahtaung, Kaba Aye, Maha Wizaya, Kyaikkasan, Okkalapa, Tooth Relic, Shwephonepwint, Zinamanaung, Ngahtatgyi, Chaukhtatgyi, Koehtatgyi and Melamu pagodas here and Thanlyin Kyaikkhauk and Kyauktan Kyaik-hmawwun Yele pagodas were thronged with Buddhist devotees paying homage to the Buddha, offering flowers and lights, observing sabbath and making donations.
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(4) ABC Taxi donates K 500,000 for Kaba Aye Youth Training School
YANGON, 12 Mar - A ceremony to donate K 500,000 for purchase of beds for Youth Training School at Kaba Aye under the Social Welfare Department of the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement by ABC Taxi Service of Shwe Inlay Company Ltd was held at the hall of the department at 9 am today.
It was attended by Acting Director-General Lt-Col Khin Aung of Social Welfare Department, officials. donors and guests.
First, Chairman of Ice Co of Japan Mr Iwamoto Kazuhisa, on behalf of Shwe Inlay Company Ltd ABC Taxi Service, briefed those present on purposes of the donation and presented K 500,000.
Lt-Col Khin Aung accepted the donation and presented certificate of honour to the donor.
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(5) Contract to buy cement from Thailand signed
YANGON, 12 Mar - TPI Polene Public Co of Thailand and GA Intertrade Co Ltd of Myanmar signed a contract at Hotel Equatorial here this evening for purchasing cement.
Assistant Managing Director of TPI Polene Public Co Ltd Mr Suradej Kumponkanjana and Managing Director of GA Intertrade U Gulahmed signed the contract.
GA Intertrade will purchase cement from the Thai company and then distribute it here at a reasonable price beginning May.
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(6) Tourists visit Thanlyin, Kyauktan
YANGON, 12 Mar - Tourists of ms Columbus, which arrived at Nanthida Jetty yesterday, went sightseeing in Thanlyin and Kyauktan Townships this morning.
The tourists went to Thanlyin Kyaikkhauk Pagoda by bus at 7.30 am today. Tour guides explained to them the history of the pagoda.
They proceeded to Kyaikhmawwun Yayle Pagoda in Kyauktan Township. Then, they rested at Green Garden Restaurant on their way back to Yangon.
At 1.30 pm, ms Columbus left here. The tourists were seen off at Nanthida Jetty by official of Myanma Hotels and Tourism Services and Myanmar Voyages Co.
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(7) Yangzhou Cultural Troupe's entertainment programme held
YANGON, 12 Mar - At the invitation of Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay, Yangzhou Cultural Troupe led by Principal of Teachers Training School of Yangzhou Ms Haw Myin Hwa in cooperation with the Fine Arts Department performed variety dances at National Theatre on Myoma Kyaung Street yesterday evening.
Present were Minister for Hotels and Tourism Maj-Gen Saw Lwin, Minister for Culture U Win Sein, Minister for Health Maj-Gen Ket Sein, Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay, Deputy Minister for Culture U Soe Nyunt, Vice-Chairman of YCDC Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa, Secretary of YCDC Col Myint Aung, Joint-Secretary U Kyi Win and committee members, heads of department, Secretary of CPC Yangzhou Municipal Commission of the People's Republic of China Mr Wu Dong Hwa and party, the Ambassador of PRC, staff of Chinese Embassy and guests.
First, Ms Haw Myin Hwa extended greetings and Yangzhou cultural troupe entertained the guests with various traditional dances.
Then, Fine Arts Department also entertained the guests.
After the entertainment programme, the Fine Arts Department presented flower basket to Yangzhou cultural troupe.
Ms Haw Myin Hwa accepted it.
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(8) Equestrian Contest begins in Dagon Myothit North
YANGON, 12 Mar - Equestrian contest, jointly sponsored by Myanmar Equestrian Federation and Yuzana Construction Co Ltd, began this morning in Equestrian Grounds in Dagon Myothit North Township.
Chairman of Myanmar Olympic Committee Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Sein Win, President of MEF Deputy Director-General of Myanma Police Force Police Brig-Gen Hla Tun and Vice-President Chairman of the YC U Htay Myint formally opened the contest.
Sword and spear events took place in groups.
Galloping and dressage heats were held.
Ministers at Office of the Prime Minister Brig-Gen Lun Maung and Maj-Gen Tin Ngwe, Deputy Minister for Forestry Col Thaik Tun, MPF Director-General Police Maj-Gen Soe Win, MEF executives, Director-General of Sports and Physical Education Department Col Hla Myint Kyaw, officials, guests and equestrian enthusiasts were also present.
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