( 1 ) Commander attends 12th Matho Thingan offering ceremony of Maha Muni Yokeshindawmyatgyi in Mandalay

Yangon, 2 Dec-The 12th Matho Thingan offering ceremony of Maha Muni Yokeshindawmyatgyi was held at Mogaung Dham-mayon at the pagoda in Mandalay at 5.30 am on 30 December. Present were Yaydaw Sayadaw of Taungpyin Htilin Taik Kyarbyan Pitaka Kyaung Bhaddanta Pan–a-vamsa, Chairman of Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Central Command Maj-Gen Ye Myint and wife, Chairman of Mandalay City Development Committee Mandalay Mayor Brig-Gen Yan Thein, Deputy Commander Brig-Gen Nay Win, senior military officers, Secretary of Division Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Tin Ohn, departmental officials, chairman of the Pagoda Board of Trustees and members, weaving experts, members of wut associations and guests. The commander and party paid obeisance and offered flowers, water, lights and Shwethingan to Maha Muni Image. The weaving experts and weavers presented Matho Shwekyar Thingan to be offered to the Image to the commander.

The commander and party offered Mathothingan to the Image. Then, the commander attended a cornerstone-laying ceremony for construction of an ordination hall in Maha Wizitayon Kyaungtaik in Chanayethazan Township. Presiding Nayaka Saya-daw of Maha Wizitayon Kyaung Joint Secretary of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Sad-dhammajotika Vicarinda-bhivamsa and members of the Sangha recited Parittas at the construction site. The Maha Wizitayon Kyaung Sayadaw, the commander, the deputy commander, officials and wellwishers laid cornerstones. The commander then performed the rituals of silver and golden showers.

 At 6.30 am, the commander attended the fifth Kathina robes offering ceremony organized by Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council at Maha Atulawaiyan (Atumashi) Kyaungdawgyi in Aungmye-thazan Township. The congregation received the Five Precepts from State Ovadacariya Joint Shwekyin Sasanabaing Maha Withokedayon Taik-thit Wasokyaung Saya-dawÊAbhidhaja Maha Ratha Guru Bhaddanta Aggiya. Members of the Sangha recited Parittas. Commander Maj-Gen Ye Myint supplicated on religious matters. The commander and wellwishers presented Kathina robes and offertories to the members of the Sangha, followed by the sharing of merits gained.

 The commander and officials offered "soon " to the members of the Sangha. Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council, departments, regiments and battalions and wellwishers donated 102 padethabins. The commander also attended the opening of Maha Aungmye Union Solidarity and Development Association Office. Secretary of Township USDA U Than Tun Oo formally opened the office.

 Secretary of Division USDA U Tin Maung Oo formally unveiled the signboard. The commander and member of the USDA Secretariat Minister for Finance and Revenue U Khin Maung Thein spoke on the occasion. Secretary of Township USDA U Than Tun Oo spoke words of thanks. He presented 5,000 membership applications to CEC member of USDA Minister at the Prime MinisterÕs Office U Than Shwe. Minister U Khin Maung Thein presented exercise books and pencils for use in courses to be conducted by Township USDA to U Than Tun Oo. The commander visited Tooth Relic Pagoda (Mandalay) in Amarapura and Nanmyo Hsutaungpyi Pagoda in the evening.

( 2 ) Myanmar-Thai traditional dances performed

Yangon, 2 Dec-The Thai dance troupe members, currently here under the cultural exchange programme between Myanmar and Thailand, performed Thai traditional dances together with members of cultural dance of Fine Arts Department at the National Theatre on Myoma Kyaung Street this evening. Heads of departments, officials of foreign missions in Yangon and the people watched their performance. The performances included Thai classical tune, scenes from Ramayana drama, duet dance, Moezarbyaw, xylophone skill of Thailand and variety of traditional dances from provinces in Thailand.

( 3 ) Thailand-Myanmar CECA president and executives leave

 Yangon, 2 Dec- President of Thailand-Myanmar Cultural and Economic Cooperation Association Gen Pat Akkanibut and executives, who attended the first joint meeting of Myanmar-Thai and Thailand-Myanmar Cultural and Economic Cooperation Associations held in Yangon, left here by air this morning. They were seen off at Yangon International Airport by President of Myanmar-Thai Cultural and Economic Cooperation Association Lt-Gen Kyaw Than (Retd) and executives and Ambassador of Thailand to Myanmar Mr Oum Maolanon.

( 4 )  Agricultural and livestock breeding tasks inspected

Yangon, 2 Dec - Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay inspected agricultural and livestock breeding tasks in Uto-Kya-in region, Taikkyi Township, this morning. The Mayor, accompanied by officials, inspected the second nine-hole golf course already built in City Farm and Resort.

The Mayor gave instructions on breeding of fish in the ponds in the golf course, planting of shade trees and flower plants and arrangements for greeing the golf course and its environs. Later, the Mayor inspected the fish ponds and pigstys built on the banks of the fish ponds, and gave instructions on the breeding of more pigs up to 3,000 and the growing of pezinngon.

Next, the Mayor inspected lemon, roselle, pumpkin, carrot and maize plantations and gave instructions on sale of vegetables at the markets in Yangon. Afterwards, the Mayor arrived at the fry shrimp hatchery. He inspected production of fry shrimps and gave instructions on the breeding of shrimps. Then, the Mayor went to Zeegon Farm and inspected plantations. He gave instructions on water supply and cultivation of cold season crops.

Mayor inspects Uto-Kya-in agriculture and livestock farm

Yangon, 2 Dec -Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Mayor U Ko Lay and officials inspected Uto-Kya-in Agriculture and Livestock Breeding Project farm being under taken by YCDC in Taikkyi Township this morning. The mayor inspected Uto Recreation Centre and Inyashei Lake by boat, and gave instructions.

He then inspected Oatpon Creek suice gate, and left instructions on systematic control of in-flow and out-flow, construction of a camp for the suice gate, and breeding of fish and pigs on a small scale and cultivation of crops in the camp. Afterwards, he inspected plantations of limes, oranges, guavas, lychees, pineapples and bananas, kitchen crop plantations, and the 15-acre pepper project plot.

 The mayor inspected the 25-ton rice mill, firewood-substitute briquette factory, oil mill, sugar mill, and fresh water prawn breeding ponds Nos 1 and 2, and gave necessary instructions. Next, the mayor attended the educative talks on health presented by writer Theikpan Hmutin at the Shwe Wah Tun Hall.

( 5 )  Thai Minister and ADB Vice-President leave

Yangon, 2 Dec- Minister at the Prime Minister's Office of Thailand Mr Chaturon Chaisang and Vice-President of the Asian Development Bank Mr Myoung Ho Shin and party, after attending the Greater Mekong Subregion Ministerial Conference on Subregional Economic Cooperation held in Yangon on 29 November, left here by air yesterday evening. They were seen off at Yangon International Airport by Minister at the State Peace and Development Council Chairman's Office Brig-Gen Abel, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Myanmar Mr Chung Jung Gum and officials.

Minister Col Thein Nyunt looks into development tasks

Yangon, 2 Dec - A ceremony to put into service Thonze-Panzwe-Taungnyo Rural Road (Section-2) in Thayawady, Bago Division (Western Part), was held this morning. Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt, Deputy Director-General of the Development Affairs Department U Mya Nyein and officials attended the ceremony. Also present were Chairman of Bago Division (West) Peace and Development Council Col Soe Nwe, the chairman and members of Thayawady District Peace and Development Council, executive committee members of Division, District and Township USDAs, War Veterans Organization and social organizations and local people.

Executive Officer of Thayawady Township Development Affairs Department U Than Aye reported on road works. Director of Bago Division (West) Development Affairs U Tin Soe, Secretary of Bago Division USDA U Thet Oo Min and member of the Road Construction Committee U Kyin Htut formally opened the road. Then, the minister inspected the road by car. The road comprises Section-1, four miles and four furlongs long, and Section-2, six miles and four furlongs.

 The road was built at a cost of K 5.1 million contributed by the people and K 1.6 million provided by the Development Affairs Department. Now some 9,000 people from 20 villages can travel in vehicles, big or small, along the road in all weathers. Then, the minister attended the opening ceremony of an artesian well at Kyaungsu Village, Panzwe Village-tract. Deputy Superintending Engineer U Myint Oo and Executive of Thayawady District USDA U Hla Shwe formally opened the artesian well. Township Development Affairs Department built the artesian well at a cost of K 250,000. Afterwards, the minister attended the coordination meeting on rural development of 14 Township Development Affairs Departments in Bago Division (West).

Also present were the chairman of Bago Division (West) Peace and Development Council, Director of Bago Division (West) Development Affairs Department and officials, executive officers of 14 Township Development Affairs Departments and engineers. The deputy director-general of the Development Affairs Department reported on construction of rural roads and bridges and water supply tasks undertaken by development affairs departments in Bago Division (West). Then, the executive officers and engineers reported on progress of work in building rural roads and bridges and undertaking water supply tasks in the financial year 2000-2001. The minister fulfilled their requirements and gave instructions.

Yangon, 2 Dec - Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone and wife Daw Aye Pyi Wai Khin attended the ceremony to offer Kathina robes to members of Sangha held at Laymyethna Kyaungtaik, Mahlaing in Meiktila District, Mandalay Division, on 30 November morning. Sayadaw Gandhava-caka Pandita of Laymyethna Kyaungtaik administered the Five Precepts and members of the Sangha recited parittas. Then, Minister Brig-Gen Pyi Sone and wife Daw Aye Pyi Wai Khin and family offered Kathina robes and provisions to the Laymyethna Sayadaw, followed by the sharing of merits.

After the ceremony, the minister and wife presented gifts to 50 elders at the ceremony to pay respects to the elderly. The minister and wife also presented K 100,000 for the Kyaungtaik to the Presiding Nayaka Sayadaw. The minister accompanied by Managing Director of Myanma Agricultural Produce Trading U Min Hla Aung and officials, arrived at Minkyaung Kyaungtaik in Taungyoete Village, Lebya Village-tract in Mahlaing Township in the afternoon and presented offertories to the Presiding Sayadaw. Then, he also presented gifts to 12 elders there.

Afterwards, USDA CEC member Brig-Gen Pyi Sone attended the ceremony to submit membership applications of the local people there. Township USDA Secretary U Shwe Nan reported on organising tasks and the CEC member made a speech. He then accepted 6,000 membership applications of local people from Lebya, Kyauktan, Kyatse Yagyikon and Seto village-tracts, and presented K 300,000 for the repair of affiliated Basic Education Middle School in Taungyoete Village-tract. He also presented K 100,000 for affiliated middle school in Kyauktan model village.