( 1 ) Two stairways of Gandhakuti Kyaungdawgyi, stone inscription, two foot-prints of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Image opened

Yangon, 23 Feb- The opening ceremonies of the two stairways of Gandhakuti Kyaungdawgyi, the stone inscription and the two foot-prints at the First Buddha Pujaniya of Lawka Chantha Abhaya Labha Muni Image were held at Mindhamma Hill in Insein Township at 8 am today. Daw Kyaing Kyaing, wife of Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Than Shwe, attended the ceremonies and formally opened the northern stairway of the Gandhakuti Kyaungdawgyi. Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Cxouncil Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt unveiled the stone inscription of the Buddha Image.

Also present on the occasion were Daw Mya Mya San, wife of Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye, Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe, wife of the Secretary-1, Daw Khin Than Nwe, wife of Lt-Gen Tin Oo, members of the State Peace and Development Council and their wives, wives of the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) and the Commander-in-Chief (Air), the Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command and wife, the ministers, the Attorney-General, the Auditor-General, the deputy ministers, the vice-chairman of Yangon City Development Committee vice-mayor, departmental heads, scholars, members of the Mindhamma Hill Board of Trustees, Myanmar Music Asiayon, Myanmar Thabin Asiayon, Ti-Ni Upathaka artistes, wellwishers, guests and wut associations.

 Then, a ceremony to inaugurate two stairways of the Gandhakuti Kyaungdawgyi was held. Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Daw Mya Mya San, Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and party took the designated places near the northern stairway. Similarly, Commander Brig-Gen Myint Swe, Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, Minister for Religious Affairs U Aung Khin and party took the designated places near the southern stairway. Chairman of Myanmar Thabin Asiayon Wunna Kyawhtin U Sein Aung Min recited the Ratu verses composed by Secretary of Myanmar Thabin Asiayon U Aung Tin Win. At the auspicious time, the southern and the northern stairways were inaugurated simultaneously. Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Daw Mya Mya San and Secretary-1 Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt formally opened the northern stairway. Likewise, Commander Brig-Gen Myint Swe, Ministers Maj-Gen Kyi Aung and U Aung Khin formally opened the southern stairway. At that time, the conch shells were blown and the drums were beaten by Taingyar Htidaw Hoisting team. Then, Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Daw Mya Mya San, the Secretary-1 and party ascended the northern stairway and Commander Brig-Gen Myint Swe, Ministers Maj-Gen Kyi Aung, U Aung Khin and party the southern stairway. The two groups sprinkled scented water on respective stairways. Then, they took the designated places.

 The harpists Troupe of Myanmar Music Asiayon played music. The Secretary-1 unveiled the stone inscriptions prescribed in Pali, Myanmar, Sanskrit and English and sprinkled scented water on the stone inscriptions. Adviser to the State calendar committee Saya Kyaw recited ‚intamani Gatha. Afterwards, the Secretary-1 and party went round the Gandhakuti Kyaungdawgyi clock-wise and took their places in front of the two foot-prints. The Ti-Ni Upathaka artistes troupe sang the song composed in honour of the Lord Buddha. Then, wellwisher Thiri Thudhamma Manijotadhara U Taw Taw and Patron of the Hill Board of Trustees Maha Saddhammajotikadhaja U Shein Aung Bo recited the religious verses. Next, Minister U Aung Khin and Thiri Thudhamma Manijotadhara U Taw Taw opened the foot-prints on the right and that on the left respectively.

 The Secretary-1 and officials sprinkled scented water on the two foot-prints. Afterwards, Daw Kyaing Kyaing, Daw Mya Mya San and the Secretary-1 paid obeisance to the Buddha Image and offered soon, fruits, water and flowers to the Image. On behalf of the wellwishers, Staff Officer U San Thin Hlaing of Yangon Division Religious Affairs Department recited the religious verses on offering of soon, water and flowers and shared merits gained. The conch shells were blown and the drums were beaten by Taingyar Htidaw Hoisting team. Officials performed the rituals of golden and silver showers to mark the successful completion of the ceremonies. On the Mindhamma Hill, the Taingyar Htidaw Hoisting team served those who attended the opening ceremonies with Htamane and Shwe Thanlwin Co family also served meals and snacks, fried vermicelli and noodle to the people.

Yangon, 23 Feb- The prize presentation ceremony for the 2001 Buddhist Literature Award and the examination of Presiding Nayaka Sayadaw Missionary Sayadaw in Japan Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Vepulla of Maha Sasana Weiponla Kyaungtaik in Gyardawya Road in Bahan Township was held at Wizaya Mingala Dhamma Thabin Hall, Kaba Aye, here at 3.30 pm today, attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. Also present were State Ovada�ariya Shwekyin Nikaya Joint Sasanabaing Thirimanda Sankyaung Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Bhaddanta Rajindabhivamsa, Vice-Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Saddhammajotikadhaja Sayadaw Bhaddanta Kesara and member Sayadaws, Missionary Sayadaw in Japan Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Vepulla and members of the Sangha, monks, nuns and those who won the Buddhist Literature Award and passed the examination, ministers, deputy ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, departmental heads, members of the Trust Fund Supervisory Committee for Maha Sasana Weipunla Kyaung Buddhist Literature Award and Examination, students who stood from first to sixth positions in the 2001 matriculation examination and guests.

The Vice-Chairman Sayadaw administered the Five Precepts. Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vepulla explained that he had set up a trust fund with 8.5 million to mark his 85th birthday plus K 1,278 to mark his year of birth 1278 ME totalling K 8,501,278, and presented prizes to the winners with the aims of ensuring promotion and propagation of Buddhist literature, uplifting the standard of Pariyatti literature and developing the education standard of the youths.

 Then, the Secretary-1 and party and wellwishers offered provisions to the Sayadaws. Next, the Secretary-1 presented certificates of honour and prizes to first and second Buddhist Literature Award winners Bhaddanta Kundala of East Ledi Taik in Monywa and Bhaddanta Pan–asami of Taunggale Pariyatti Sarthintaik in Taunggale Village, Hpa-an Township respectively and certificates of honour and prizes to a monk who passed the Digha Nikaya Kovida and the four who passed the Vinaya Kovida in the Tipitakadhara Selection Examination and a monk who won the first prize in the Sakkyasiha Dhammanariya examination.

( 3 )  Arrangements under way for systematic development of Myanma traditional medicine to reach international standard

One-year course No 2 (Yangon) for traditional medicine practitioners opens

Yangon, 23 Feb- The opening ceremony of one-year course No 2 (Yangon) for traditional medicine practitioners of the Traditional Medicine Department under the Ministry of Health was held at the Institute of Nursing (Yangon) on Bogyoke Aung San Road this evening, with an address by Chairman of the National Health Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt. Also present were ministers, deputy ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, the directors-general and the deputy directors-general of departments under the Ministry of Health, members of the Traditional Medicine Council, the rectors of the Institutes of Medicine in Yangon, the chairmen of non-governmental organizations, course instructors and trainees.

The Secretary-1 delivered an address. He said that in Yangon and Mandalay, the government is silmutaneously conducting one-year courses for traditional medicine practitioners that can further broaden their scope of knowledge of traditional medicine and provide health care services to the people. The course No 2 and course No 4 have been successfully conducted in Yangon and Mandalay respectively. The courses have been successful due to concerted efforts for realization of the objectives  systematic development of Myanmar traditional medicine and improvement of the quality of Myanmar traditional medicine practitioners.

These are lofty aims laid down by Head of State Senior General Than Shwe with respect to the traditional medicine field. Myanmar traditional medicine, which was inherited from forefathers, has developed step by step and has been interrelated with social, economic and cultural elements in the course of history of Myanmar and its people. Traditional medicine has developed among Myanmar people since the dawn of Myanma civilization and contributed to effective provision of health care to the people throughout the course of the Myanmar history which has lasted for thousands of years. Therefore, traditional medicine has served as great assistance in national defence and development. Due to the preservation of traditional medicine by Myanmar traditional medicine practitioners, traditional medicine survived when the nation was under servitude, when independence struggle which stirred up nationalistic spirit began, and after independence was regained.

Despite external and internal hindrances, the State Peace and Development Council is making efforts on self-reliance for raising the living standard of Myanmar society and emergence of a peaceful, prosperous, modern, developed democratic nation. Moreover, it is endeavouring for all-round development of the nation, relying on national forces in order to enable the nation to keep abreast with others. In its efforts for all-round development of the nation, the government is making arrangements for systematic development of Myanma traditional medicine so as to reach international standard. The government also sees to it that everybody can effectively use the traditional medicine, adopting the attitude that the traditional medicine is a national heritage that contributes to the health and fitness of the people which play an important role in defending the nation. Myanma traditional medicine with potent medicines and various effective remedies has developed in the course of Myanmar history. It will become extinct if posterity do not preserve it systematically. The government's assistance is needed to develop Myanmar traditional medicine up to international standard.

 This is why the government has been giving priority to development of the Myanmar traditional medicine in providing health care services to the people. Head of State Senior General Than Shwe stressed the State's lofty objectives related to Myanmar traditional medicine in the message sent to the second Myanmar Traditional Medicine Practitioners"  Conference in 2001. He said, " With proper standardization and good quality assurance the role of traditional medicine will be greatly enhanced, which will be popular not only in Myanmar but also abroad."

 In addition, Head of State Senior General Than Shwe has given the guidance: to do research and standardize Myanma traditional medicines and remedies and make use of modern methods and equipment, to combine western medicine and traditional medicine in giving treatment and improve the traditional medicines and remedies which can cure diseases that cannot be cured by western medicine, and to develop highly-qualified human resources for the systematic propagation of traditional medicine. In accord with the guidance of the Head of State, the government is taking systematic measures to develop Myanma traditional medicine, to preserve and improve Myanma traditional medicine and to disseminate it systematically. In this regard, plans for development of highly-qualified human resources play a crucial role.

Today the first ever University of Traditional Medicine in the history of Myanma traditional medicine has emerged. The university will produce traditional medicine practitioners who have a good knowledge of western medicines, English language, Sanskrit and science. Moreover, courses in Myanma traditional medicine will continue to be conducted, and the university will be able to produce a lot of Myanma traditional medicine practitioners. The one-year traditional medicine practitioner courses are conducted in accord with the guidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe in order to pass on the heritage of traditional medicine, to promote the ability of the traditional medicine practitioners and to present the government-recognized certificates. To produce Myanma traditional medicine practitioners, different courses are being conducted with the use of syllabuses which contain the essence of Myanma traditional medicine.

This effort is aimed at producing traditional medicine practitioners who are capable of improving the health standard of the nation. Therefore, there will be an increase in the number of graduate traditional medicine practitioners, diploma holder traditional medicine practitioners and those who have completed the traditional medicine course. If the national health plans of the State are implemented with the collective strength of these qualified traditional medicine practitioners, the objective of uplifting the national health standard will be achieved, and the standard and quality of Myanma traditional medicine will improve all the more. Altogether 299 trainees are going to attend the present course.

There are those who are taking care of public health with traditional medicine, traditional medicine producers, doctors and Tatmadaw members among the trainees. So the range of traditional medicine has become wider and wider. As for the Tatmadaw men, they have been sent to attend the one-year traditional medicine practitioner course only after they had completed outstandingly well the basic traditional medicine course jointly conducted by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Defence.

Therefore, the Tatmadaw men who have the opportunity of attending the course need to study hard so that they can provide health care for the people with traditional medicine when they discharge national defence duty at border and remote areas. All the trainees need to live in unity and amity, share their knowledge and study hard in order to be able to provide health care for the national people. In conclusion, the Secretary-1 urged all to strive for the development and propagation of Myanma traditional medicine which is the heritage of Myanmar and the people, to strive for the further improvement of Myanma traditional medicine at a good time when the government is giving encouragement to the flourishing of traditional medicine, to preserve and disseminate Myanma traditional medicine and to contribute with the use of their knowledge to the modernization and development of the future nation and the building of a peaceful, democratic nation free from foreign influence. After the opening ceremony, the Secretary-1 had a cordial meeting with the trainees. Altogether 299 trainees are attending the course.

( 4 ) City Housing Project Supervisory Committee holds meeting

Yangon, 23 Feb - City Housing Project Supervisory Committee held meeting No 4/2002 at the meeting hall of the Department of Human Settlement and Housing Development this morning. Chairman of the Supervisory Committee Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt attended the meeting. Also present were Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Brig-Gen Myint Swe, ministers, deputy ministers, the vice-mayor, members of the Supervisory Committee, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office, heads of department and officials.

The Secretary-1 said that at the present meeting, matters related to systematic implementation of city housing projects are to be discussed. The Supervisory Committee is to make sure that city housing estates of required standard are available to those who need apartments of their own. The Supervisory Committee needs to provide effective supervision for the successful realization of the aims of city housing projects and development of the city in accord with the city development project. Then, those present discussed matters related to the establishment of industrial zones, land and buildings, housing projects and city development tasks. The meeting ended with concluding remarks by the Secretary-1.

( 5 ) Pre-diamond jubilee of Maha Bhodi Tahtaung Sayadaw to be held

Yangon, 23 Feb-The Pre-diamond jubilee of Agga Maha Saddhama Jotikadhaja World Missionary Maha Bhodi Tahtaung Sayadaw Bhaddanta Narada of Maha Bhodi Tahtaung Kyaungtaik in Khatakkantaung Village, Monywa Township, Sagaing Division, will be held on 26 and 27 February 2002. The activities on 26 February 2002 (14th Waxing day of Tabodwe) will include offering of water, fruits, lights and flowers to over 9,000 Bhodi pagodas and Buddha images. The activities on 27 February (Fullmoon Day of Tabodwe) will include Buddha Pujaniya, consecration, provisions offering to over 200 members of the Sangha and reordination of the Sayadaw. During the festivities meals will be served and entertainment will be presented at night.

Korean delegation concludes visit

Yangon, 23 Feb - Minister of Trade of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of Korea Mr Hwang Doo-Yun and party this morning visited Shwedagon Pagoda, where they were welcomed by the officials. First, they went round the pagoda and donated cash. Then, they left Yangon for home by air in the afternoon. Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone and officials, departmental officials of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Union of Myanmar saw them off at the airport.

( 6 )  Myanma Education Goal stone inscription unveiled

Yangon, 23 Feb- Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Brig-Gen Myint Swe, together with Minister for Education U Than Aung, attended a ceremony to unveil the Myanma Education Goal stone inscription at No 2 Basic Education Primary School in Kamayut Township this morning.

Also present were Deputy Minister for Education U Myo Nyunt, the president of Myanmar Academy of Arts and Sciences, directors-general and chairmen of departments and boards under the ministry, the rector of the Yangon Institute of Education, Commander of No 4 Military Region Commandant of the Defence Services Record Office Brig-Gen Myo Myint, local authorities, the township education officer, headmasters, headmistresses, teachers, students, members of the Union Solidarity and Development Association and guests.

First, ten outstanding students formally unveiled the stone inscription bearing: " To create an education system that can generate a learning society capable of facing the challenges of the Knowledge Age."  Then, Minister U Than Aung elaborated on the Myanma Education Goal. First grader Ma Su Yadana Toe read the twelve Myanma education goals enshrined in the 30-year long-term plan. Headmistress Daw Kathi Soe Thein spoke words of thanks and the ceremony came to a close.

Education goal stone inscription unveiled in Myitkyina

Yangon, 23 Feb - A ceremony to unveil the education goal stone inscription was held at Basic Education High School No 3 in Myitkyina at 2 pm on 10 February. It was attended by State Education Officer U Maung Maung, rector of the University of Mayitkyina U Thin Hlaing, Township Education Officer U Win Pe, Headmaster U Ba Tun, state and township retired education officers, members of the school board of trustees and students. The students led by outstanding tenth standard student Ma Aye Myat Chan Nyein formally unveiled the Myanma education goal stone inscription. State Education Officer U Maung Maung explained about Myanma education goal, and eighth standard student Ma Ei Mon Kyaw, who attended the 11th Asia-Pacific Youth Gathering, read the 12 Myanma education goals enshrined in the 30-year long-term plan.

Commander inspects regional development in Sagaing Division

Yangon, 23 Feb-Chairman of Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Commander of North-West Command Brig-Gen Soe Naing, accompanied by officials, inspected Hydel Power Plant Project of Thaphanseik Dam implemented by Myanma Electric Power Enterprise near Hngetpyawgaing Village in Kanbalu Township on 20 February morning. Engineer U Kyaw Win reported on progress of work and condition of power supply. The commander fulfilled the requirements.

Then, the commander inspected construction of Kanbalu Township Section of Shwebo-Myitkyina Road and the ten-mile and four-furlong long bypass, and gave instructions to officials. At 10.30 am, the commander attended the opening of Phayagyi Market Highway Bus Terminal and Shwebo-Mandalay Highway Bus Terminal in Kanbalu. At 1 pm, the commander and party proceeded to Thaphanseik Multipurpose Dam and inspected storage of water, water supply, progress of work in construction of the hydel power plant and installation of machinery at the plant. Deputy Director of Construction-4 of the Irrigation Department U Victor and Project Engineer U Wai Tun of Thaphanseik Hydel Power Project reported on the work being carried out to the commander, who attended to their needs. At 2.30 pm, the commander inspected construction of drains for the right canal to ensure water supply for 27,000 acres of farmland in Butalin and Ayadaw Township, and gave instructions on timely completion of water supply tasks to enable the farmers to work the land at appropriate time. The commander then fulfilled the requirements.