(1)  Outstanding members of the Sangha in 53rd Tipitakadhara Selection Examination honoured 

YANGON, 20 May-The 53rd ceremony to honour the outstanding members of the Sangha in the 53rd Sacred  Tipitakadhara Selection Examination was held at the Ordination Hall of Maha Pasana Cave on Kaba Aye Hill this  morning, attended by 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 Daw Mya Mya San.

Also present were Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru  Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Myingyan Koehsaungtaik Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sobhita and member  Sayadaws, Chairman of Tipitakadhara Tipita-kakovida Selection Ovada-cariya Committee Abhidhaja Maha Rattha  Guru Mawlamyine Webyan Kyaungtaik Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vijaya-bhivamsa and member Sayadaws,  examination supervisory Sayadaws, the outstanding members of the Sangha in the 53rd Sacred Tipitakadhara  Selection Examination, Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt; Daw Khin
Than Nwe, wife of Lt-Gen. Tin Oo; Secretary-3 Lt-Gen. Win Myint and wife Daw Khin Cho Oo, Commander-in- Chief (Navy) Rear-Admiral Kyi Min and wife, Commander-in-Chief (Air) Lt-Gen. Kyaw Than, Deputy Prime  Ministers and their wives, ministers and wives, deputy ministers, heads of department, members of Yangon  Division Peace and Development Council, personnel from religious organizations and devotees.

Director of Religious Affairs Department U Tun Hla, Deputy Director U Tun Yi, Assistant Director U Tun Shwe  and Assistant Director U Myat Htwe ushered member Sayadaws of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee.

Next, Assistant Directors U Ohn Shwe and U Aye Lwin, Assistant Director of Department for Promotion and  Propagation of the Sasana U Ko Ko Myaing, Staff Officer of Religious Affairs Department U Tun Naing and Staff  Officer U Aung Htwe also ushered the Tipitakadhara Tipitaka-kovida title recipient, two Tipitakadhara title recipients, two Mula Abhidhamma Kovida title recipients, two Mula Abhidhamma title recipients, a Dighanikaya Kovida title recipient, six Dighadhanaka title recipients, nine Vinaya Kovida title recipients, six Vinaya Dhara title
recipients, five Ubatovibhinga Kovida title recipients and 17 Ubato-vibhingadhara title recipients.
 
Director-General of Religious Affairs Department Dr Myo Myint acted as master of ceremonies.

The congregation received the Five Precepts from Mawlamyine Webyan Kyaungtaik Sayadaw Bhad-danta  Vijayabhivamsa.

Secretary Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Magway Sayadaw Bhad-danta  Kumara read out Ovadakatha of Myingyan Sayadaw Bhaddanta Sobhita.

In his Ovadakatha, the Sayadaw said he was pleased to know that 50 candidate Sayadaws passed the 53rd  Tipitakadhara Tipitaka-kovida Selection Examination. One of them received Tipitakadhara Tipitaka-kovida title.  Ashin Gan-dhamala Lankara passed the Tri-Pitakas written examination and Ashin Sundara and Ashin Indapala  passed the Tri-Pitakas oral examination. At the previous ceremony there were two Tipitaka-kovida title recipient  Sayadaws and one Tipitakadhara title recipient Sayadaw.

The Sayadaw said members of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee were pleased to hear the emergence of  those who pass Tri-Pitakas written and oral examinations.

The Sayadaw said that the government and wellwishers had donated provisions to members of the Sangha.

In his supplication, Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin said that the last two Buddhist synods - the fifth  Buddhist Synod and the sixth Buddhist Synod - were held in Myanmar. So, Myanmar can take the lead among  Theravada Buddhist nations. It is because members of the Sangha in Myanmar have learnt, studied, taught and  disseminated Tri-Pitakas. Therefore, Pari-yatti Sasana is shining as brightly as the sun and the moon.

Pariyatti examinations have been held with the aim of ensuring the perpetuation of Pariyatti Sasana. In the  Pariyatti field, Tipitakadhara and Tipitakakovida selection examination is the highest of its kind. In this  examination, altogether 8,028 pages of TriPitakas, namely, Sutta, Vinaya and Abhidhamma, are to be recited  thoroughly, correctly and without hesitation. Only after that, Tipitakadhara title is conferred on the candidate.

After the candidate passes that oral examination, he has to sit for the written examination. Only after the candidate  passes the written examination, is Tipitakadharakovida title conferred on the candidate. Now, in the Union of  Myanmar, nine Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida title holders have emerged.

Six Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida title holders are still alive. The prospects of emergence of more Tipitakadhara  Tipitaka-kovida title holders look good. In the 53rd Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida selection examination, there  were 15 Sasana Arzarnis who passed both oral and written examinations one Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida title  holder, two Mula Abhidhamma Kovida title holders, one Dighanikayako-vida title holder, six Vinayakovida title  holders and five Ubhatovibingakovida title holders.

There are 35 Sasana Arzarnis who passed the oral examination  two Tipitakadhara title holders, four  Ulaarbidhammika title holders, six Dighabhanaka title holders, six Vinayadhara title holders and 17  Ubhatovibindadhara. Just as Sayadaws and members of the Sangha have been making efforts year after year for the  continuous emergence of Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida title holders, so the disciples are also providing four  prerequisites for them.

Then, General Maung Aye offered Sasana flag, the certificate and Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida title to Ashin  Gandhamalalankara of Tipitaka Kyaungdaw of Sagawa Street, Dagon Township. Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt  offered Sasana flag, certificate and Tipitakadhara title to Ashin Sundara of Sunlun Vipasana Yeiktha of  Thingangyun Township. Secretary-3 Lt-Gen. Win Myint offered Sasana flag, certificate and Tipitakadhara title to  Ashin Indapala of Tipitaka Kyaungdaw. Rear-Admiral Kyi Min offered Mula Abhidhamma Kovida title to Ashin  Jatila of Pahtama Gandayon Kyaung-taik of Sagaing.

Lt-Gen. Kyaw Than offered certificate and Mula Abhidhamma Kovida title to Ashin Indacariya of Tipitaka  Kyaungdaw. Then, Deputy Prime Minister Vice-Admiral Maung Maung Khin offered Mula Abhidhammika Title  on Ashin Kesarinda of Tipitaka Kyaungdaw, Sagawa Street, Dagon Township, Deputy Prime Minister Lt-Gen. Tin  Tun, Mula Abhidhammika Title on Ashin Sittha-ana of Maha Bodhipin Sagaing Kyaungtaik, Indagaw, Bago  Division; Deputy Prime Minister,  Minister for Military Affairs Lt-Gen. Tin Hla, Mula Abhidhammika Title on  Ashin Abhijatabhivamsa of Maha Subodhayon Kyaungtaik, Sagaing; and Minister for Industry-1 U Aung Thaung,  Mula Abhidhammika Title and certificates on Ashin Viriya Nanda of Tipitaka Kyaungdaw, Sagawa Street, Dagon Township.

Afterwards, Minister for Foreign Affairs U Win Aung offered Dighanikaya Kovida Title on a Sayadaw and  Visittha Dighabhanaka Title on a Sayadaw; Minister for Transport Maj-Gen Hla Myint Swe, Dighabhanaka Title  on two Sayadaws and Visittha Dighabhanaka Title on two Sayadaws; Minister for Cooperatives U Aung San,  Dighabhanaka Title on a Sayadaw and Vinaya Kovida Title on three Sayadaws; Minister for Energy Brig-Gen.  Lun Thi, Vinaya Kovida Title on three Sayadaws and Vinayadhara Title on a Sayadaw and Minister for Religious  Affairs U Aung Khin, Vinayadhara Title and certificates on four Sayadaws.

Deputy Minister for Labour Brig-Gen. Win Sein offered Vinayadhara Title on a Sayadaw and Ubhatovibhinga  Kovida Title on three Sayadaws; Deputy Minister for Information Brig-Gen. Aung Thein, Ubhatovibhinga Kovida  Title on two Sayadaws and Ubhatovibhingadhara Title on two Sayadaws; Deputy Minister for Construction U Tint  Swe, Ubhatovibhingad-hara Title on two Sayadaws; Deputy Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National  Races and Development Affairs U Kyaw Tin, Ubhatovibhingadhara Title on two Sayadaws; Deputy Minister for  Industry-1 Brig-Gen. Kyaw Win, Ubhatovibhinga-dhara Title on two Sayadaws; Deputy Minister for Transport  Brig-Gen. Kyaw Myint, Ubhatovibhingadhara Title on two Sayadaws; Deputy Minister for Industry-2 Lt-Col Khin  Maung Kyaw, Ubhatov-ibhingadhara Title on two Sayadaws; Deputy Minister for Energy U Tin Tun,  Ubhatovibhingadhara Title on two Sayadaws and Deputy Minister for Immigration and Population U Maung  Aung, Ubhatovibhingadhara Title and certificates on two Sayadaws.

Next, 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  gained. The ceremony came to a close with three-time reciting of Buddha Sasanam Ciramtitthatu.

After the ceremony, General Maung Aye and wife Daw Mya Mya San, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen. Khin Nyunt, Daw Khin  Than Nwe, wife of Lt-Gen. Tin Oo, Secretary-3 Lt-Gen. Win Myint and wife Daw Khin Cho Oo, the Commander- in-Chief (Navy), the Commander-in-Chief (Air), the deputy prime ministers, the ministers and their wives, the  deputy ministers, departmental heads and wellwishers presented offertories to the title recipient Sayadaws. U Hla  Aung and brothers and sisters of No 4, 11th Street, Yangon, offered a day's meal to the title recipient Sayadaws and members of the Sangha.

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(2) Secretary-3 attends 14th gems and jade sales of UMEHL 

YANGON, 20 May-Secretary-3 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen. Win Myint attended the  14th gems and jade sales of the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd held at Myanma Gems Emporium Hall  on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road today.  The Secretary-3 was welcomed there by Deputy Prime Ministers Vice-Admiral  Maung Maung Khin and Lt-Gen. Tin Tun, the ministers, Managing Director of UMEHL Brig-Gen. Win Hlaing  and directors.  The Secretary-3 and party observed the sales of gems and jade through bargain and auction systems and left there at 4.15 p.m.

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(3) 14th gems and jade sales of UMEHL concludes

YANGON, 20 May-The closing ceremony of the 14th Gems and Jade Sales of the Union of Myanmar Economic  Holdings Limited was held at Myanma Gems Emporium Hall on Kaba Aye Pagoda Road this morning.  It was  attended by Managing Director Brig-Gen. Win Hlaing and members of Board of Directors of Union of Myanmar  Economic Holdings Limited and 553 local and foreign gem merchants.

Sales through bargain and auction systems came to an end successfully today.  At the sales, 275 lots of gems were  sold at K 566.85 million (US $ 7.06 million) and 52 lots of jade at US $ 548,000. Managing Director Brig-Gen.  Win Hlaing of UMEHL and officials presented gifts to the merchants who offered the highest prices.

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(4) Commander attends opening ceremony of Tanshankha bridge

YANGON, 19 May-Opening ceremony of Tanshankha bridge donated by Jade Land Co was held near milestone  14/4  on Myitkyina-Sumprabum-Putao between Arlan and Dongan villages on 17 May. It was attended by  Chairman of Kachin State Peace and Development Council Commander of Northern Command Maj-Gen Kyaw  Win, high-ranking military officers, departmental officials, the donor U Yut Zaw Khaung and wife, members of  social organisations and local people.

The commander and the donor formally opened the bridge. The steel beam reinforced concrete bridge, 90 feet long,  16.6 feet wide and 26.6 feet high was constructed at a cost of K 21 million.
 
Commander attends opening of summer courses in Mandalay

YANGON, 19 May-A ceremony to mark conclusion of Summer Culture Course and Basic Spoken English  Course of families of Mandalay Station of Central Command was held at No 18 Basic Education High School in  Mandalay Nanmyo on 17 May morning. Present were Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council  Chairman Central Command Commander Maj-Gen Ye Myint, Deputy Commander Brig-Gen. Nay Win, senior  military officers, members of the division Working Committee for Women’s Affairs, departmental heads, course  instructors and trainees.

The commander gave a speech. A total of 300 students attended the courses. Then, he inspected irrigated summer  sesamum fields of farmer U Nyo in Irrigated Summer Cultivation Special Zone near Nyaung-bingyi Village,  Singaing Township, Kyaukse District, and attended to the requirements. In 2001-2002, 18,172 acres of irrigated  summer sesamum in Singaing Township and 61,678 acres in Kyaukse District were cultivated. Afterwards, he  inspected paddy fields in Nyaungbingyi Village, supply of water from Zawgyi Dam and construction of  Nyaungbingyi-Taown Road.

Thence, he proceeded to Mandalay General Hospital and inquired after the health of Kanswe Kyaungtaik Sayadaw  Bhaddanta Nandiya (aged 99) who was in-patient at the hospital, and fulfilled the needs of the Sayadaw. He also inspected the corridor linking Gynaecology and Obstetrics Ward, Musculoskeletal and Rehabilitation Department  and Neuro-Surgical Ward and construction of three-storey building of Musucolskeletal and Rehabilitation  Department.  Commander Maj-Gen Ye Myint gave instructions and attended to the needs.

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(5)  Commander inspects regional development work in Htantabin

YANGON, 20 May-Member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace  and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than inspected regional  development work in Htantabin Township, Yangon North District this afternoon.

The commander arrived at the jetty of Anyasu village in Htantabin Township at 3 p.m. He inspected extension  work at Tamalo canal. It is being carried out by Department of Water Resources and Improvement of River  Systems and Irrigation Department for the protection erosion at Kokkowa river near Anyasu village.

On the dredge, Head of Division U Thein Aung of Yangon Division Department of Water Resources and  Improvement of River Systems reported to the commander on work carried out by the dredger. According to the  report, work has been carried out since 7 November. Out of targeted 38,346 pits of earth, 21,360 pits have been  dug so far. Dredging will be continued up to the breadth of 100 feet and 10 feet under the lowest water level. Then,  Director U Kyaw Thein of Yangon Division Irrigation Department reported to the commander on work to be  carried out with the use of heavy machinery from the bank. The canal will be extended from the present position to  the breadth of 400 or 500 feet and to the length of 3,500 feet.

The commander fulfilled the needs and gave instructions on timely completion of the project. He inspected work  done before he left there in the evening. Digging of Tamalo canal is implemented to prevent from erosion in  Kukkowa river near Anyasu village and floods in the farm lands in Tetthit Kyun region and on Yangon-Pathein  motorway.
 
Production and utilization of EM Bokashi demonstrated in Pathein

YANGON, 19 May- The demonstration for production and use of EM (effective micro-organism) Bokashi fertilizer, organized by Aye-yawady Division Myanma Agriculture Service, was held at the plot of farmer U Thein Oo at Pyingadoegon Village-tract in Pathein Township on 15 May.

Present on the occasion were Chairman of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council Commander of South-West Command Maj-Gen Thura Shwe Mann, Deputy Commander Brig-Gen. Tint Swe, officials and local people.

Deputy General Manager U Ohn Than of MGS and officials demonstrated production of EM Bokashi and its use. Lecturer Dr Nyunt Pe of Pathein University explained the use of bio-natural fertilizer. The commander gave a speech.

Then, the commander attended the meeting to review tasks for 2000-2001 fiscal year and the coordination meeting to exceed the target for 2001-2002 at the office of Ayeyawady Division Peace and Development Council.
 

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(6) Commander attends completion certificate presenting ceremony

YANGON, 19 May- A ceremony to present basic education completion certificates for 2000- 2001 academic year  was held at No 1 Basic Education High School in Lashio on 14 May afternoon.

Chairman of Shan State (North) Peace and Development Council Commander of North-East Command Maj-Gen  Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, officials concerned, teachers, students and their parents attended the ceremony.   Headmaster U Nyunt Sein explained the purpose of presenting the certificates and presented the certificates to 241  students- 112 high school students, 95 middle school students and 34 primary school children.  After the  ceremony, the commander inspected the basic computer course for high school and middle school teachers of  Lashio District at the school.

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(7) Mindhamma Hill All-round Construction Central Committee meets 

YANGON, 20 May-The Central Committee for All-round Construction of Mindhamma Hill held a meeting at the  briefing hall on Mindhamma Hill, Insein Township, here, this afternoon. Chairman of the committee Minister for  Religious Affairs U Aung Khin, Joint-Secretary Cmdr Khin Maung Oo (Navy) and committee members,  departmental personnel, technicians and members of the Pagoda Board of Trustees attended the meeting. The  minister gave a speech on the occasion. Then, the Joint-Secretary reported on implementation of resolutions passed  at the previous meeting.  Those present also reported on the all-round construction of the hill. U Aung San-Daw  Khin Shwe family of 33rd Street, Kyauktada Township, donated K 130,000 and U Maung Aung-Daw Nyo family
of Thazin Min Restaurant, Yangon-Insein Road, Mayangon Township, K 200,000 for the construction through the  Joint-Secretary and the officials who presented certificates of honour to the wellwishers.

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(8)  Yangon-Pathein Road inspected

YANGON, 20 May-Minister for Construction Maj-Gen Saw Tun, together with Deputy Minister Brig-Gen. Myint  Thein and officials of Public Works, inspected progress of repairing of Yangon-Pathein Road, maintenance and  work being carried out and gave necessary instructions yesterday morning. The minister inspected Yangon-Nyaungdon, Maubin-Sarmalauk, Kazan-Takwae and Pantanaw-Pathein road sections and gave instructions to the
officials. Then, the minister arrived at Daka Bridge project in Kangyidaung Township where Project Engineer  Deputy Superintending Engineer U Onzapa and officials welcomed and reported to him on piling and future tasks.  The minister gave instructions on minimizing of wastage and systematic use of machinery and attended to the  needs. The bridge, which is 1400-ft long and has a 28-ft wide motorway and 5-ft wide pedestrian lanes on both  sides, can bear 60-ton loads.

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(9) Billboard hailing WVO Conference erected

YANGON, 20 May-A ceremony to erect a billboard hailing Myanmar War Veterans Organization Conference  2001 was held in front of U Ottama Park near Yangon-Sittway Highway in Sittway, Rakhine State, yesterday  morning. It was attended by Rakhine State WVO Supervisory Committee Chairman Rakhine State Peace and  Development Council Secretary Lt-Col Thein Kyaing, chairmen of district/township WVOs and members,  departmental officials, the secretary and executives of district/township USDAs, MCWA and Auxiliary Fire  Brigade, Red Cross, Working Committee for Women's Affairs and others about 1,500. Lt-Col Thein Kyaing,  Secretary of Sittway District Peace and Development Council Maj Aung Hlaing and Chairman of Sittway  Township WVO Maj Myat Soe (Retd) formally opened the billboard. A similar ceremony was held at the corner of  Kanphya Road and No1 BEHS Street in Myeik, Taninthayi Division yesterday.

Myanmar amateur golfers leave for Malaysia

YANGON, 20 May-Myanmar selected amateur golfers Zaw Zaw Latt, Nanda Kyaw and Zaw Zin Win left for  Malaysia by air to participate in the Pan-West Malaysian Amateur Open Golf Championship 2001 to be held at  Palm Resort Golf and Country Club from 24 to 27 May and the 14th Panasonic Saujana Open Amateur Golf  Championship 2001 to be held from 29 to 31 May at Saujana Golf and Country Club, Malaysia. They were seen off  at the airport by General Secretary U Aung Kyi of Myanmar Golf Federation, executives U Ko Ko Lay and U Chan  Han and relatives. The (MBL) Tiger Beer gives necessary assistance to the golfers.

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