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(1) Secretary-1 inspects construction of International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University
YANGON, 8 July - Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council Lt Gen Khin Nyunt inspected teaching and construction of International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University, construction at Kaba Aye and general renovation of Shwedagon Pagoda this morning.
The Secretary-l, accompanied by officials of the State Peace and Development Council, on arrival at International Theravada Buddhist Missionary, University, was welcomed by member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, Minister for Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Deputy Minister for Construction U Tint Swe, heads of department, the directors-general of Religious Affairs Department and Department for Promotion and Propagation of the Sasana and officials of the university.
A coordination meeting to open international Theravada Buddhist Missionary University was held at the meeting hall of Administration building.
Minister Maj-Gen Sein Htwa reported on progress of work on construction of the university, collection of books for teaching, curriculums, strength of staff and preparations for opening.
Deputy Superintending Engineer of Public Works U Kyi Tun reported on progress of the university.
Next, Pro-Rector of the university Maha Gantavacakapandi Dr Bhaddanta Neminda and scholars reported on academic and management matters and health care service.
The Secretary-1 give instructions and presented Waso robes to Sayadaw Dr Bhaddanta Neminda. The Secretary-1 then inspected construction of main lecture hall and visited the Tooth Relic Pagoda.
The Secretary-1 then accepted k 50000 donated by Dr Myo Khin and Dr Khin May Oo for the Tooth Relic Pagoda.
He also inspected renovation of hostels, beautifying the precincts of the university and construction of Museum on the Sixth Buddhist Synod Mawgun Museum at Kaba Aye.
Afterwards, the Secretary-1 inspected preparations for making precincts of Pitakata1i1 clean and pleasant and renovations of Sri Lanka Hall.
He inspected construction of the hall where State Sangha Maha Nayaka Sayadaws will reside. Officials reported on progress of work.
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(2) Secretary-2 receives foreign entrepreneurs
YANGON, 8 July - Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt Gen Tin Oo received Chairman Mr Mark Carnegie of Easy Call Company under CRA Co of Australia, Managing Director Mr Wong Fong Fui of Boustead Company of Singapore and Director Dr Patrick HM Loh of MTB Malaysian Fruits Company of Malaysia at the office of the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation at 5:30 pm today.
Present also were Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin, Minister for Mines Brig-Gen Ohn Myint, Minister at the Office of Prime Minister Brig-Gen Lun Maung and Director-General Dr Mya Maung of the Agriculture Planning Department. The foreign entrepreneurs were accompanied by Chairman of Myanmar May Flower Bank Ltd U Kyaw Win.
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(3) Myanmar refutes presumptuous observations, remarks
YANGON, 8 July - The following is a Press Release of the Ministry of Foreign Affair of the Union of Myanmar issued today.
Recent statements made by certain responsible Ministers regarding their concern on the presupposed situation in the Union of Myanmar are found to be presumptuous.
The authorities of the Union of Myanmar have been exercising utmost restraint in dealing with the aggressive and confrontation attitude of certain elements with the hope of inviting outside interference in the Internal political development. The authorities will continue in exercising careful and measured steps to safeguard and protect the stability as well as constructive building of a system which the Government has committed to build with discipline.
It is regrettable however that presumptuous observation and remarks made on
isolated and wrong information could lead to misunderstanding and misconception
not only in bilateral relations but also in intra-ASEAN perceptions which are
against the inherent and ultimate objectives of ASEAN as a whole.
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(4) Staff families of office of Camp Commandant hold Waso robe offering ceremony
YANGON, 8 July - Staff families of the Office of the Camp Commandant of the Ministry of Defence held a Waso robe offering ceremony at Alanpya Kyaung on Alanpya Pagoda Road in Dagon Township here this morning.
It was attended by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Chief of Bureau of Special Operations Chief of Staff (Army) Lt-Gen Tin Oo and his wife Daw Khin Than Nwe, Camp Commandant Col Hla Aung Thein and his wife Daw Amy Khaing, staff families of Office of the Camp Commandant and guests.
Those present received the Five Precepts from Alanpya Kyaung Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sirinda (Dhammacariya) and members of the Sangha who recited parittas.
The Secretary-2 and his wife, Col Hla Aung Thein and his wife and dignitaries presented Waso robes to the Sayadaw and members of the Sangha.
The Sayadaw delivered a sermon, and the Secretary-2 and his wife and well-wishers then shared merits gained.
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(5) Pagodas, monasteries crowded with devotees on Fullmoon Day of Waso
YANGON, 8 July - Devotees crowded pagodas and monasteries on the Fullmoon Day of Waso, paying obeisance to the Buddha, offering flowers, lights, incense and water, taking Sabbath, offering robes to Sayadaws and reciting the Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta, the first sermon the Lord discoursed after attaining Enlightenment on this day over 2,500 years ago.
It was also the day when Buddha-to-be Prince Siddhattha was conceived and the day he renounced worldly pleasures.
Shwedagon
Members of the Board of Trustee sponsored a Waso robe
offering ceremony in a tazaung at Shwedagon Pagoda this morning, attended by the
Pagoda Ovadacariya Sayadaws, members of religious associations and donors.
The Pagoda Ovadacariya Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Razindabhivamsa administered the Nine Precepts. Donors presented Waso robes to Sayadaws.
Bhaddanta Razindabhivamsa delivered a sermon.
The congregation shared the merits gained.
U Khin Myo Aung (Maha Anupyinnya Yinbyin) and family presented offertories and 'soon' to Sayadaws. The pagoda was crowded with devotees doing meritorious deep till dawn to dusk.
A religious association distributed iced water to pilgrims.
Sule
Shwekya Robes were offered to the Buddha at Dhammacakka Day
ceremony at Sule Pagoda in the morning. The congregation comprising
members of the Board of Trustees, members of wut associations and donors
received the Five Precepts. Members of wut associations recited religious
verses led by members of the Board of Trustees, laity offered Shwekya Robes to
Buddha images in the respective chambers.
A large number of laypersons offered flowers, lights, incense and water to the Buddha and took Sabbath at the pagoda.
Botahtaung
Members of Adeikhtan Pararni Sanitation Association and
Buddhists offered fruits flowers, water and lights to the Lord Buddha at
Botahtaung Hsandawshin Pagoda at dawn today.
Sayadaw Tipitakadara Tipitakakovida Bhaddanta Vayaminda of Tipitaka Kyaung, Dagon Township, delivered an ovadakatha at the pagoda at noon and Vice-Chairman of State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Ashin Takkhasara at 3 pm. Buddhists were doing meritorious-deeds at the pagoda from early morning to late evening.
Kyaikkasan
Members of the Board of Trustees of Kyaikkasan Pagoda
and Dhamma Pujaniya Association jointly observed the Dhammacakka Day in Dhamma
Beikman Hall at the at 6 am on the Fullmoon Day.
Present to pay respects to Pagoda Ovadacariya Sayadaws were members of the Board of Trustees, members of wut associations, yogis and devotees totalling over 3,000.
Pagoda Ovadacariya Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sumana administered the Nine Precepts and delivered the Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta.
'Soon' was offered to Sayadaws at the pagoda which was reverberated with the sound of religious sermons recited by members of wut associations.
Mogaung
Waso robes were offered to Sayadaws for the 51st time at
Mogaung Hsutaungpyi Pagoda in Yankin Township this afternoon.
Donors and members of wut associations presented Waso robes and offertories to members of the Sangha of 12 monasteries in the township in Ariya Dhammayon.
Sayadaw Bhaddanta Silavamsa of Nimitayon Kyaungtaik delivered a sermon.
The congregation shared the merits gained. Sayadaw Bhaddanta Theravamsa delivered an ovadakatha.
KabaAye
Fifteen wut associations today started their
round-the-clock recitation of prittas and suttas for 90 days throughout the
period of Buddhist lent at Thiri Mingala Kaba Aye Pagoda to mark the beginning
of the Buddhist lent
Sponsored by members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees, the ceremony was held in Aryonkha Tazaung of the pagoda in the afternoon.
Waso robes were offered to six Buddha images in the chambers of the pagoda.
Mahasi
Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha offered Waso robes to Sayadaws led by
Mahasi Ovadacariya Sayadaw Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhmammajotika Agga Maha
Pandita Bhaddanta Pannasippa at the yeiktha.
Sayadaw Bhaddanta Pannasippa administered the eight precepts.
Donors presented cash to set up funds to offer 'soon' to Sayadaws.
A ceremony was held at Sasana Beikman of All Myanmar Buddhist Missionary Headquarters to offer Shwethingan to the Buddha and Pansa Waggis.
Waso robes were also offered to ten Sayadaws led by Patron of State Pariyatti Sasana Tekkatho (Yangon) Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Panditabhivamsa.
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(6) MRTV delegation arrives back
YANGON, 8 July - Myanmar delegation led by Deputy Chief Engineer U Myint Aung of Myanmar Radio and Television Department arrived back here by air this afternoon.
They studied in Yunnan Province of People's Republic of China.
The delegation was welcomed back at Yangon International Airport by Director-General U Khin Maung Htay of MRTV, Third Secretary of the PRC Embassy Daw Yin Yin May and officials of departments concerned and relatives.
Members of the delegation are Head of News Branch Maj Aung Naing of Defence Services Television Unit (Myawady TV), Staff Officer (Admin) U Kan Myint, Staff Officer (Broadcasting) U Than Myint, Assistant Engineers U Tun Aung and U Tin Htay Thein.