THE NEW LIGHT OF MYANMAR
( Sunday,  19   December 1999)

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  1. Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing  attend dedication ceremony for Mahasantisukha Buddhist Missionary Centre
  2. All faiths exist together and are flourishing in Myanmar
  3. Myanmar Mayflower Bank Ltd opens branch in Hlinethaya
  4. Secretary-2 inspects implementation of Aungzeya Bridge Project
  5. Symposium on Mobilization of Financial Resources for Development in Myanmar ends
  6. Chinese women delegation arrives
  7. 45 members resign from Shwedaung Township NLD
  8. WEATHER
(1) Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing  attend dedication ceremony for Mahasantisukha Buddhist Missionary Centre

YANGON, 18 Dec - A ceremony to share merits for Mahasantisukha Buddhist  Missionary Centre, inaugurated yesterday, was held at Ayeya Hall of the  Centre in Natchaung Ward,Tamway Township, Yangon Division, this morning,  attended by Chairman of the State Peace and Development and Council  Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw  Kyaing Kyaing.

Also present on the occasion were Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka  Committee Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika  Myingyan Koehsaungtaik Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sobhita, State Ovadasariya Myanmar -  Sri Lankarama Monastery Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Naninda,  Secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abhidhaja Maha Rattha  Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Magway Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kumara and  member Sayadaws, Dhammabhandagarika title recipient Sayadaws, invited  local Sangha, World Buddhist Missionary Agga Maha Paridita Agga Maha  Saddhammajotika Penang-Singapore Sayadaw Baddanta Pannavamsa, members of the  Sangha Singapore, Bangladesh, Malaysia, the United States and Sri Lanka,  Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy  Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) and wife,  Secretary-l of the State Peace and Development Council and wife , Secretary-2  and wife, and  wife of Secretary-3, members of the State Peace and Development  Council Commander-in-Chief (Navy) Vice-Admiral, Commander-in-Chief (Air) and  Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander and their  wives, Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral, Deputy Prime Minister and wife,  the ministers and their wives, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-Generanl, Chairman of the Public Service Selection  and Training Board, the Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee the  Mayor and wife, the deputy ministers, the Vice-Mayor, the Director-General of  the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads, officials  of the Leading Committee for Organizing the Inauguration of Mahasantisukha  Buddhist Missionary Centre and Subcommittees, members of the Upahtaka of the  Centre, personalities of internal and international religious associations,  well-wishers, members of Union Solidarity and Development Association and  Maternal and Child Welfare Association, teachers of basic education schools  from Tamway Township and guests.

Before the ceremony, vocalists and harpists of Tipitkka Nikaya Upahtaka  religious song troupe entertained the guests with religious songs.

At 9.30 am, master of ceremonies Director-General of Religious Affairs  Department read the agenda of the ceremony.

The congregation recited Namotassa thrice and received the Five Precepts from  Chairman of the State Sao Maha Nayaka Committee Abhidhya Maha Rattha Guru  Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Myingyan Koehsaungtaik Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sobhita.

Afterwards members of the Sangha recited Parittas.

Then, on behalf of the Government of the State Peace and Development Council,  Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council supplicated on  religious affairs. He said:

Buddha Sasana reached Myanmar at the time Lord Buddha was still - alive and  Tapussa and Balika, two merchant brothers, brought eight sacred strands of  hair of Lord Buddiha and enshrined them in the Shwedagon Pagoda; records show  that at the invitation of Venerable Gavampati, Lord Buddha made a journey to  Thuwunna Bommi Thaton and also to Legaing Kyaungdawya and Shwesettaw regions  in Minbu District.

Religious records, ancient pagodas, stupas and temples attest to the fact  that venerable monks resided in Tagaung, Hanlin and Srikhetsara in Myanmar  after Lord Buddha attained Nirvana.

Though Sasana reached Myanmar and flourished there, it is found that Sasana  could not last long; due to lack of Pariyatti treatises, five Nikayas,  Tri-Pitaka and religious treatises.

In 1600 Buddhist Era, after listening to the sermon of Venerable Shin Arahan,  King Anawrahta of Bagan strove for the perpetual flourishing of Buddhism,  thanks to Venerable Shin Arahan and King Anawrahta, the people of Myanmar  have the chance to pay homage to the Buddhist Sasana and to practise and  listen to the teachings of Lord Buddha.

Ninety percent of the people of Myanmar have faith in the Theravada Buddhist  Sasana; over 400,000 members of the Sangha have been living in over 52,000  monasteries, studying Pariyatti treatises, conducting religious courses and  dispensing the teachings of Buddha for disciples.

The Government, on its part, is promoting Pariyatti Sasana by holding  religious examinations for members of the Sangha; moreover, Tipidakadhara  Selection Examination, which is the most difficult in the world and can be  held only in Myanmar, is held every year, and outstanding members of the  Sangha who can learn one-third, two-thirds or all of the Tri-Pitaka by heart,  have emerged.

With regard to Patipatti, there are over one thousand meditation centres, and  the number of Yogis who practise meditation at the centres, is increasing;  with a view to ensuring the flourishing of Pariyatti Sasana and Paripatti  Sasana, the Government is conferring religious titles.

In view of the improvement of the standard of teaching Pali literature  treatises and Myanmar literature treatises dating back from the time of King  Anawrahta, it can be said that the teaching of Pariyatti in Myanmar is  reaching its zenith.

Similarly, the standard of Vipassana practices called Patipatti is found to  have reached the highest point; those from the four corners of the earth who  would like to study and practise theravada Buddhist teachings, have come to  Myanmar and propagated the teaching in their respective countries; so, many  Theravada Buddhist Sasana monasteries have emerged throughout the world.

As World Buddhist Missionary Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Panavamsa  has realized that many Theravada Myanmar monks who can preach in English,  French, German, Chinese and Japanese, are needed; it is necessary to run  Buddhist missionary courses with the aim of ensuring the emergence of  missionary Sayadaws who are proficient in foreign languages and know culture  and customs of respective countries: the Sayadaw requested the Government to  build A ten-storey building comprising lecture halls to conduct Buddhist  missionary courses; at the request of the Sayadaw, Chairman of the State  Peace and Development Council Senior General Than Shwe assigned duties to  officials concerned.

The Secretary-l himself provided close supervision to raise funds and to get  construction materials in time; the Ministry of Construction and Asia World  Construction Company have constructed the building successfully as scheduled.

A stake-driving ceremony for construction of Mahasantisukha Buddhist  Missionary Centre was held on 27-11-96; on 17-12-99, the inauguration  ceremony was held and on 18-12-99, merits gained for construction of the  centre were shared in the presence of members of the Sangha led by the  Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee.

The ten-storey centre is ornamented with Myanmar art works; the centre  comprises the prayer hall, living quarters, guest rooms, lecture halls  installed with projectors and audio-video equipment, the meeting hall, Soonsa  Hall and two lifts.

The successful building of the centre can be attributed to the belief,  generosity and good intention of the Government and Buddhist people.

In conclusion, the Secretary-l expressed his wishes, "May I be able to attain  Nirvana due to merits gained for building and donating the centre; may I be a  worthy son who can promote Buddhist Sasana in case I go round the circle of  rebirth; may I see Theravada Buddhist Sasana flourishing in all parts of the  world and the people of the world imbued with moral virtues; may I be able to  successfully build the Union of Myanmar into a peaceful, modern and developed  nation; may Sayadaws and members of the Sangha be able to further promote the  interest of Sasana with peace of mind; and may all the disciples be able to  further make donations."

Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Vice-Chairman of the  State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence  Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) and wife, Secretary-l of the State Peace  and Development Council and wife, Secretary-2 and wife, the wife of  Secretary-3, members of the State Peace and Development Council, Deputy Prime  Ministers, Ministers, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, the  Auditor-General, the Chairman of Civil Service Selection and Training Board,  the Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee the Mayor and deputy  ministers donated robes and provisions to the Sayadaws.

Afterwards, World Buddhist Missionary Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha  Saddhammajotika Penang-Singapore Sayadaw Bhaddanta Pannavamsa delivered a  sermon on Anumodana.

Then, Secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abhidhaja Maha  Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Magway Sayadaw Bhaddanta  Kumara delivered a sermon, followed by sharing of merits.

After the ceremony, Senior General Than Shwe and wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing  performed the rituals of gold and silver showers to mark the success of  merit-sharing ceremony and then offered ‘soon’ to the Sayadaws.

Later, the Senior General and party inspected Mahasantisukha Buddhist  Missionary Centre.


(2) All faiths exist together and are flourishing in Myanmar

YANGON, 18 Dec - The dinner and gathering commemorating the birthday of  Christ, jointly held by Myanmar Catholic Priests Council and Myanmar  Christian Council of Churches, took place at the Traders Hotel at 6.30 pm  today, attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council  Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.

Also present on the occasion were ministers, officials of the State Peace and  Development Council Office, department heads, the archbishops and members of  Myanmar Catholic Priests Council and Myanmar Christian Council of Churches,  delegates of other religious associations and guests.

Joint Secretary of Nguza Htaung spoke words of blessings.

Chairman of MCPC Archbishop Matiya extended greetings.

Then, the Secretary-1 extended greetings.

In his greetings, the Secretary-l said today, the beginning of a new century  or a new millennium is being welcomed all over the world in various ways.

At that time, favourable conditions such as national solidarity, peace and  tranquillity and consolidation are emerging in the Union of Myanmar;  therefore, Myanmar is to enter the new millennium with national determination.

The Union of Myanmar has been built Myanmar national races such as Kachin,  Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Bamar, Mon, Rakhine and Shan, and they have freedom of  faith and culture and have been living in the Union for years countable by  the thousand.

All the national races born in the Union have had the right to preserve their  respective traditions and culture of high standard since the time of ancient  Myanmar monarchs and it is also evident that they also have freedom of faith.

Myanmar people believe that all the faiths have power to teach the people  discipline and code of conduct of human society, social dignity and moral  virtues.

Similarly, all the faiths emphatically teach loving kindness, justice,  loyalty,  and forgiveness and oppose animosity malice, disloyalty and injustice; in the  Union of Myanmar where four cardinal virtues namely loving kindness  compassion, rejoicement at others success and prosperity and indifference are  flourishing, all the faiths exist together and are flourishing: it reflects  the magnanimity of Myanmar people.

However, destructive elements who do not wish to see the interests of Myanmar  are spreading false and fabricated news related to freedom of faith.

Devoted people will not accept their act of using the religion in sowing the  seeds of discord and suspicion among the people.

The Secretary-1 urged Christian leaders to inform all Christians and the  people of the world of the absolute condition in which all the faiths exist  together and are flourishing.

He said all national races in Myanmar respect and practise the attitudes of  loving kindness, magnanimity and forgiveness and freedom of religion would  remain as a tradition and would bring about goodwill relations among national  races.

He said the State Peace and Development Council is making efforts for  emergence of a peaceful, modern developed nation with renewed momentum. As  every religion builds human society based on peace, unity and justice it has  power to control all citizens to be honest and to possess good morals, he  said.

He said he believed that all difficulties could be overcome in marching  towards a goal of emergence of a peaceful, modern developed nation .

The Secretary-l spoke on making efforts for development of Myanmar, national  solidarity and perpetuation of the Union as the national tasks.

He urged all national races to continue to bring constructive attitudes such  as stability, tranquillity, unity, justice and progress to millennium with  Union spirit.

Next, General Secretary of Myanmar Baptist Christian Association Saw  Margeygyi, Chairman of Kayin Baptist Mission Society, Officer in charge of  Myanmar Salvation Army Major Naw Phaw Tin, Daw Moe Moe Ei of Methodist  Church, Loikaw Catholic Priest Charles So Ba Shwe and Pathein Catholic Bishop  gave the blessing. Members of the association sang hymns.

Catholic Bishops Association Loikaw Catholic Most Rev Sotero Phamo delivered  a sermon.

Chairman of Independent Christian Church Dr Pa Hsan gave the blessing and  members of the association sang hymns.

Dinner was served for the guests.

(3) Myanmar Mayflower Bank Ltd opens branch in Hlinethaya

YANGON, 18 Dec - Myanmar Mayflower Bank Ltd opened its 20th Branch at the  corner of Yangon-Pathein Road and Kanaung Road in Hlinethaya Industrial Zone  in Hlinethaya Township, this morning.

The opening ceremony was attended by Secretary-2 of the State Peace and  Development Council Lt-Gen Tin Oo, Minister for National Planning and  Economic Development, Minister for Finance and Revenue, Minister at the Prime  Minister’s Office, Deputy Minister for Finance and Revenue, Chief of Staff  (Navy) Commodore, Chief of Staff (Air), Deputy Commander of Yangon Command,  Director of People’s Militia and Frontier Forces, Officer on Special Duty at  the State Peace and Development Council Office, Governor of the Central Bank  of Myanmar, departmental officials, Chairman of Myanmar Mayflower Bank Ltd ,  entrepreneurs and guests.

Minister for Finance and Revenue said MMB is a bank which gives financial  services for the people employing modern banking techniques and it has now 20  branches.

The new branch would carry out financial services for industrial and other  businesses in the zone, he said.

He said the government has given encouragement to the participation of  private entrepreneurs in agriculture and industries and the private banks are  to provide financial assistance to those sectors.

The minister urged the private banks to make efforts for systematic  development of banking sector with unity in accord with the objectives of  Myanmar Banks Association.

Minister for National Planning and Economic Development reported on the  States economic development.

The Secretary-2  said the government was providing assistance to the  enterprises of national entrepreneurs and he expressed his leaguer for  opening of private bank branches nationwide with the help of the Ministry of  Finance and Revenue.

He said the government provides necessary assistance and gives encouragement  for development of works of national entrepreneurs.

The Secretary-2 spoke of the need for entrepreneurs to cooperate with  sincerity, to work with cetena for national development and building of a  peaceful modern developed nation and to participate in development of  agriculture, industrial and trade sectors.

Chairman of Myanmar Mayflower Bank Ltd also spoke on the occasion.

Next, the Secretary-2 and Minister U Khin Maung Thein formally unveiled the  signboard of the branch.

The Secretary-2 and guests inspected the branch, the eighth one in Yangon.

Arrangements are being made for opening of more branches in majorities in  states and divisions in 2000.

(4) Secretary-2 inspects implementation of Aungzeya Bridge Project

YANGON, 1 Dec - Secretary-2 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen  Tin Oo, accompanied by Chief of Staff (Navy) Commodore, Chief of Staff (Air),  Deputy Commander of Yangon Command, Officer on Special Duty at the State  Peace and Development Council Office and officials, inspected Hlaing River  Crossing Aungzeya Bridge Project being implemented by Public Works at 1 pm  today.

Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo inspected progress of work in building approach  roads and structures on the bank of Insein Township; and construction of No 2  Pier.

In the briefing hall, Superintending Engineer (Planning) reported on progress  of work in implementing the project and future tasks and Assistant Engineer  Daw on construction of No 1 and No 2 Piers.

Secretary-2 Lt-Gen Tin Oo gave instructions on the completing of construction  works in June 2000, work site safety and the minimizing of loss and wastage,  health and Welfare of project workers.

(5) Symposium on Mobilization of Financial Resources for Development in Myanmar ends

YANGON, 18 Dec - The Symposium on Mobilization of Financial Resources for  Development in Myanmar jointly sponsored by Myanmar Institute of Strategic  and International Studies and Institute of Southeast Asian Studies  (Singapore), with the support of Sasakawa Peace Foundation (Japan), continued  for the second  and  final day at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

Present on the occasion were officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  officials of Sasakawa Peace Foundation of Japan and Institute of Southeast  Asian Studies (Singapore), senior military officers of the Ministry of  Defence, the Director (News) of News and Periodicals Enterprise and officials  of dailies, those of National AFTA Unit, departmental officials, scholars  from universities, private banks, researchers from Japan, Indonesia, the  Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Myanmar.

On the second-day symposium, Associate, Director Mr Anton H Gunawan of  Research Institute for Economic and Social Research, University of Indonesia  presented a paper on Indonesia-Mobilization of Domestic Financial Resources:  Financial Reforms, Research Associate of Malaysian Institute of Economic  Research (MIER) Dr Syed Waseem Ahmad on Malaysia Mobilization of Domestic  Financial Resources: Stock Exchange and Assistant Professor Dr Renato E  Reside Jr of School of Economics, University of the Philippines, on  Infrastructure Development in the Philippines: An Overview with Some Lessons  for Other Countries.

The symposium ended with remarks by Director-General of ASEAN Affairs  Department, Director Dr Lau Sim Yee of Sasakawa Peace Foundation ,and  by Director  Professor Chia Siow Yue of Institute of Southeast Asian Studies of Singapore.

(6) Chinese women delegation arrives

YANGON, 18 Dec - A five-member delegation led by Vice-President of All China  Women’s Federation Mrs Shen Shuji arrived here by air this morning.

The Chinese goodwill delegation was welcomed at Yangon International Airport  by Chairperson of Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association Professor  Daw Kyu Kyu Swe and officials and staff of Chinese Embassy.

The delegation together with Professor Daw Kyu Kyu Swe visited the Myanma  Gems Museum on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road and the National Museum on Pyay Road in  the afternoon. The delegation later visited the Shwedagon Pagoda.

(7) 45 members resign from Shwedaung Township NLD

YANGON, 18 Dec - Forty-five members resigned from National League for  Democracy of Shwedaung Township, Bago Division.

Forty-five members of Shwedaung Township NLD, Bago Division, of their own  volition, resigned by sending letters of resignation to Shwedaung Township  Multiparty Democracy General Election Commission and the party concerned on  11 October 1999 as they no longer wished to participate in party politics of  NLD.

(8) WEATHER

Maximum temperature on Dec 17 was 33.0 °C (91°F)

Minimum temperature on Dec 18 was 16.5 °C (62°F)

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