Yangon, 25 Feb — Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council General Khin Nyunt, together with Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myint Swe, ministers, the Chief of Staff (Navy), deputy ministers, officials of the State Peace and Development Council Office and departmental heads, left here by helicopter and arrived at the Kalihtaw Dam in Hlegu Township at 7.50 am today.
The ceremony to launch the Kalihtaw Dam built by the Irrigation Department under the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation in Hlegu Township, Yangon North District, Yangon Division, was held at the pandal near the dam at 8 am.
The Secretary-1 said the Kalihtaw Dam will help develop agricultural undertakings of Nyaunhnapin Agriculture and Livestock Breeding Zone lying between Hmawby and Hlegu townships in Yangon Division. Thus it is an important facility not only for the zone, but also for providing enough food for the people living in Yangon city.
Thanks to Lagonbyin Dam in Yangon Division and Alaingni Dam in Bago Township, Bago Division, which were opened in November 2001 and January 2003 respectively, the government has been able to make arrangements to cultivate 22,000 more acres in Hlegu Township and the areas where Yangon and Bago divisions meet.
Kalihtaw was opened one month after the inauguration of the Alaingni Dam. Thus, there emerged a large agricultural area lying between the two divisions, and creating good foundations to provide food for Yangon.
The State is laying down systematic plans in all sectors and making continuous efforts for progress of the Union of Myanmar and the social economy and food, clothing and shelter conditions of the people living in the motherland.
As Myanmar is an agro-based nation, development in the agricultural sector, not only contributes to development of the economic condition of the national races, but also ensures adequate food, clothing and shelter conditions, heading towards increasing the living standard. Thus the State is making efforts for agricultural development as a national objective.
Thus, it is applying various means to ensure water availability, the most basic requirement for agriculture, building dams, water pumping stations, underground water supply stations, sluice gates that can prevent flood and entering of sea water at all possible places depending on the natural conditions.
The government has been building irrigation facilities in the whole nation, and has already commissioned into service 143 dams including the Kalihtaw during its tenure.
The government had already used K 59,412.38 million from the State budget in building 143 new dams during the period of over ten years. The dams are now irrigating over 2 million acres of crops (precisely 2,032,619 areas), directly serving the interest of the farmers. Thus, it can be said that the facilities are also benefiting the State.
The government has been building a large number of irrigation facilities. But from the economic point of view, most of the facilities are not built for profit. Building of the irrigation facilities for agricultural development amounts to laying down the most effective plans for economic growth of the farmers representing the majority of the nation’s population. Thus the government has been building the facilities with the sole goal to serve the interest of the people, without centering on the economic profit.
Nowadays, the irrigation facilities are being built not only for irrigation, but also to realize the objectives contributing to an increase in the moisture of the dry regions, greening the environment, taming the weather and generating power, and serving the people’s interest.
Thanks to the new dams, the agricultural and economic foundations of the farmers are developing, leading to enhancing the achievements in alleviating poverty, improving the living standard, ensuring adequate amount of food for people, developing the regions, greening the dry regions and creating favorable weather conditions.
The Kalihtaw Dam will provide enough water for Nyaunhnapin Agriculture and Livestock Breeding Zone, which faced inadequate water supply in the past, and irrigate the crops in Hmawby and Hlegu townships. Plans to supply adequate amount of food for the residents in Yangon will gain further development, because of the dam. The city food supply plan is being launched in accord with the guidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe.
Yangon is the administrative and economic hub of the nation. It is a densely populated area without having enough agricultural undertakings in its surrounding areas. In the past, rice, meat, fish, vegetables and other edible crops came to Yangon from faraway places.
In this regard, Head of State Senior General Than Shwe has given guidance on the set up of large-scale enterprises producing food including rice, meat, fish, vegetables and kitchen crops in the surrounding areas of the densely populated city.
In accord with the guidance, farming enterprises have been set up at Uto-Kya-in region in Taikkyi Township, and Nyaunghnapin region in Hmawby Township, lying in outskirts of Yangon city. Special plans are being made for the Yangonites to buy the farm produce at reasonable prices.
The State had assigned duty to the Yangon Command and the Yangon City Development Committee to run the farming business zone-wise and the ministries to take part in the enterprise. Thus, all the departments concerned are energetically striving to produce food.
In accord with the guidance of the Head of State, necessary assistance has been provided to cultivation of paddy and other marketable crops. Moreover, encouragement has been given to the agricultural work of farmers and major farms of national entrepreneurs.
In Nyaunghnapin Agriculture and Livestock Breeding Special Zone also, success has been achieved in cultivation of vegetables and in livestock breeding tasks conducted by units, regiments and the respective departments under the supervision of Yangon Command and it can be seen that more food have been provided to Yangonites.
Therefore, the emergence of Kalihtaw Dam will surely contribute towards sufficient and plenty of food for the people living in Yangon, exhibiting the genuine goodwill of the Head of State towards the people.
To fully realize the goals and goodwill of the Head of State, officials in Nyaunghnapin Agriculture and Livestock Breeding Special Zone should effectively use the water supplied by the Kalihtaw Dam for agricultural purpose and local people of Hlegu and Hmawby Townships should strive for achieving success in agriculture and livestock breeding tasks.
In conclusion the Secretary-1 urged those concerned to strive for achieving success in agriculture and livestock breeding tasks through effective use of water provided by Kalihtaw Dam; to make efforts for the people of Yangon to be able to enjoy the fruits of agricultural and livestock breeding tasks; and to sufficiently distribute the agricultural and livestock breeding products at reasonable price to the people in accord with the lofty aims and goodwill of the Head of State.
Commander Maj-Gen Myint Swe spoke on the occasion. He said Yangon Division gets a lot of rain according to geographical conditions. Dams, canals and sluice gates were built for flood preventive measures and irrigation works. Reservoirs are being built for storage of rain water and flood prevention.
In Yangon Division over 1,170,000 acres of monsoon paddy and over 250,000 acres of summer paddy are grown annually. Altogether 43 dams, 65 canals and 103 sluice gates were built for full cultivation of monsoon paddy. They protect over 600,000 acres of monsoon paddy, half of monsoon cultivation acreage, from floods.
For cultivation of summer paddy dams provide water to 65,000 acres of farmlands. through irrigation, river water pumping project and tube wells.
The Kalihtaw Dam was built with the aim of irrigating the Nyaunghnapin vegetable zone. Under the guidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe, vegetable cultivation and poultry farm special zone was established for sufficiency of vegetables in Yangon Division. Emphasis was placed on construction of infrastructures such as building of roads, power supply and installation of telephones and irrigation.
Irrigation from the right canal of Ngamoyeik Dam to the lower part of the zone-1 was carried out. The Head of State gave guidance on construction of Kalihtaw Dam for irrigation of three zones.
Nyaunghnapin vegetable zone now gets sufficient water and produces vegetables for the people of Yangon city.
He expressed thanks to the Head of State, staff of Irrigation Department for construction of the dam which was built at a cost of over K 441 million.
He also called for maintenance of the dam and effective use of water resources in cultivation.
Minister Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin delivered an address. He said that Nyaung-hnapin Vegetable and Livestock Breeding Zone bordering Hmawby and Hlegu regions in Yangon Division is a production zone on which not only Yangonites but also local people rely.
The Head of State has given guidance on fulfillment of food, security of the people and uplift of their living standard. This being so, rural development tasks and tasks for the 24 development zones are being implemented to bring about equitable and harmonious development the length and breadth of the nation. In the process, Vegetable and Livestock Breeding Zone, the prerequisite for development of Agriculture and Livestock Breeding Sector, emerged.
Kalihtaw Dam, the irrigation facility, was built with the aim of supplying water for agricultural purpose. It will contribute much to development of agricultural sector and fulfilling the needs of local people.
The dam was constructed by building an embankment on Kalihtaw Creek to ensure water supply for three Nyaunghnapin vegetable and livestock breeding zones with an area of over 9,000 acres, thereby contributing to further socio-economic development of farmers, rural and urban people. The dam, agricultural force, together with 11 already-built dams including Ngamoyeik Dam, Lagunpyin Dam and Tabuhla Dam will contribute to economic development of Yangon Division.
At the same time, Mahuya Dam and Paunglaung Dam are being built to help fill water to Ngamoyeik Dam for boosting the agricultural production force. Therefore, it is assumed that the agricultural production of agro-economic sector in Yangon Division including this region will contribute economic development of the State.
While measures are being taken for development of agricultural infrastructure across the nation, land is being reclaimed in the states and divisions. In this context, steps are being taken for introduction of high land farming to end the terrace cultivation, which poses a threat to natural environment and production. In addition, double cropping and mixed cropping are being introduced with the effective use of machinery for boosting the per acre yield.
The Ministry of Agricultural and Irrigation has been making efforts to introduce the quality-strain-high-yield crops for boosting production in agricultural sector. In doing so, measures are being taken to export new kind of crops.
Thus, work is well under way to boost the production of rice, maize, groundnut, sesamum, sunflower, cotton, green beans, mung beans, pigeon bean and sugarcane, on which the agricultural sector rely most.
Therefore, the local farmers and the people are to strive to successfully implement the objectives for development of agricultural sector—to ensure local sufficiency in rice, to further boost the production of local edible oil and to earn foreign exchange through export of the agricultural produce.
Yangon Division is the main region in lower Myanmar for agro-economic production.
The division is trying utmost to fulfill the 17 per cent of GNP of the economy of the State. Thus, the assistance provided by the State is to be fully used for successful implementation of the objectives.
The farmers and the people in Yangon Division on which production of rice, various kinds of pulses and beans, sugarcane, jute, industrial crops, rubber, Thitseint and vegetables rely are to make strenuous efforts for local sufficiency in food as well as for national development.
The minister called on the farmers and the local people to maintain the dam for its durability. Then, on behalf of the local people, Secretary U Kyi Aung of Hlegu Township USDA in Yangon North District thanked the State Peace and Development Council for construction of the dam. Afterwards, the Secretary-1 presented gifts for staff of civil and mechanical engineering sections who participated in construction of the dam to Director (Civil) U Kyaw Thein and Director (Mechanical) U Baw Htin of the Irrigation Department.
Then, the ceremony continued at the archway of the dam. First, the Secretary-1 formally unveiled the stone inscription of the dam. Then, Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Myint Swe and Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin formally opened the dam.
Then, the Secretary-1 and party posed for a documentary photograph together with guests, students and local people.
Then, the Secretary-1 inspected round the dam, water control facility and spillway of the dam.
The dam, with an earth embankment of 65 feet in height and 3,500 feet in length, is able to store 26,000 acre-feet of water and irrigate 9,000 acres of farmland.
After the ceremony, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Nyunt Tin reported to the Secretary-1 on catchment area of the dam, average rain fall of the area, water supply tasks for Nyaunghnapin vegetable and livestock breeding special zone, construction of water control towers and diversion weirs; Commander Maj-Gen Myint Swe on cultivation and livestock breeding tasks at the special zone, land reclamation and arrangements for cultivation of crops in Zone-2 (Extension), and tarring of Sutthwadaw-Kyarinsu road section; and Director-General U Kyaw San Win of the Irrigation Department on storage capacity, conduits and spillway of the dam. Afterwards, the Secretary-1 gave necessary instructions.
Then, the Secretary-1 and party left the dam and arrived back here at 10 am.
Yangon, 25 Feb— The fifth cash donation for supply of pure drinking water in rural areas was held at the National RacesTraditional Dance Hall of the Union National Races Village in Thakayta Township this afternoon, attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council General Khin Nyunt.
Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt reported on measures undertaken for supply of pure drinking water in rural areas. He said the five rural development tasks are being implemented in accord with the guidance of Head of State Senior General Than Shwe. Altogether 285 Township Development Affairs Committees and 42 development committees are carrying out urban and rural tasks under the control of Development Affairs Department of the Ministry of Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs. According to the survey conducted by development affairs committees, there are 15,813 villages that do not get sufficient drinking water in the country including those in Sagaing, Magway and Mandalay Divisions. Out of the 8,042 villages in three divisions, 4,100 villages now get pure drinking water. The development affairs committees spent K 321.61 million on rural water supply in 2001-2002 financial year and K 537.47 million in 2002-2003 financial year.
Wellwishers and international organizations donated cash for rural water supply project. Altogether 250 tube-wells will be sunk in five years in cooperation with JICA and 50 have been sunk so far. The master plan for drinking water supply project in arid zone was drawn up and 22 tube-wells were sunk in 10 townships.
Forty four tube-wells were sunk in Bagan-NyaungU and Kyaukpadaung Townships under the arrangements of Bridge Asia Japan (BAJ). A total of 248 water supply projects were undertaken in three divisions in arid zone under the arrangements of UNICEF. Altogether 472 wellwishers presented K 408.7708 million and US $ 8,254. At the fifth cash donation 179 wellwishers donated K 104.7554 million. The amount of money can be calculated but their goodwill cannot be measured in figure, he said.
All the villages in Myittha and Kyaukse Townships in Mandalay Division, ChaungU and Myinmu Townships in Sagaing Division and Taungdwingyi and Minbu Townships in Magway Division will get pure drinking water soon, he added.
Then the fifth cash donation ceremony for safe drinking water supply in rural areas followed. Secretary-1 General Khin Nyunt accepted K 1 million of the Ministry of Defence presented by Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Thein Sein, K 9.5 million by Moe-myay-nay-la Co Ltd and Eiksathaya family, K 500,000 by Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs Col Thein Nyunt and wife and K 1 million by Minister for Communications, Posts and Telegraphs Brig-Gen Thein Zaw and wife. Next, General Khin Nyunt presented certificates of honour to the wellwishers.
Then, the ministers, the chief-justice, Yangon mayor and the deputy minister accepted cash donation of 81 wellwishers — K 720,000 by Chief Justice U Aung Toe and wife Daw Aye Kyi; K 5 million by National Economic Holdings Ltd ; K 2 million by U Ko Ko Htwe (Taw Win Family); K 1.5 million by U Lin Win-Daw Yi Yi Sein family; K 1.2 million by Mr Uwej Dohler- Dawlmalatt (Hamburg Germany); 1.1 million by Shwe Ohm Compressor and tube-well sinking services; K 1 million by Ministry of Energy, K 1 million by Mingalamay Women All-round Development Cooperative Ltd and K 500,000 by Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association presented by MWJA Chairman U Hla Myaing (Ko Hsaung) and Secretary U Hla Tun (Hla Tun-Twantay).
A total of over K 104.7 million donated by 179 wellwishers were received. Then, on behalf of the Chairman of Mingalamay Women All-round Development Cooperative Daw Thet Yi explained the purpose of the donation.
Next, Secretary-1 General Khin Nyunt spoke words of thanks. He said the regions of the nation have different climates, and Magway, Mandalay and Sagaing divisions in central Myanmar have dry and hot weather.
Let alone water for use, even the drinking water was scarce in the central Myanmar. They were trying to solve the water problem daily. They faced much hardships even to get a pail of water. The consequences of water scarcity had created social hardships, followed by breaking out of diseases caused by contaminated water. They were solving the problem of water scarcity for hundreds of years.
Thus, the State has been finding ways to ensure water supply in the whole nation including the dry region. It has been applying various means to supply drinking water as well as water for irrigation in the entire nation. It has built 143 dams including the Kalihtaw which was opened this morning in Hlegu Township. The State and people are making cooperative efforts to supply clean water to the dry region covering Mandalay, Magway and Sagaing divisions. In the past drilling could reach up to 200 feet underground. Now the advanced machines can drill up to 1,000 feet. Tube-wells are being dug with the help of donors to supply clean water to the villages of other regions.
The joys of the people of the places where clean water supply is available due to the harmonious efforts of the State and the people can be seen at present.
The clean water supply project will continue with the harmonious efforts of the people under the leadership of the State till it covers every part of the nation.
The ceremony then came to a close.
Chief of Armed Forces Training inspects Tadmadaw columns 1
Yangon, 25 Feb — Chairman of the Leading Committee for Observance of the 58th Anniversary of Armed Forces Day Member of the State Peace and Development Council Chief of Armed Forces Training Lt-Gen Kyaw Win inspected columns that will take part in the 58th Anniversary Armed Forces Day parade this morning.
Chief of Armed Forces Training Lt-Gen Kyaw Win arrived at No 1 Transit Centre (Bayintnaung) where he was welcomed by member of the Leading Committee for Observance of the Armed Forces Day Vice Quartermaster-General Maj-Gen Kyaw Win, Vice Chiefs of Armed Forces Training Maj-Gen Win Myint, Maj-Gen Aung Kyi and Maj-Gen Thein Swe, Parade Commander Brig-Gen Than Htay, Reserve Parade Commander Brig-Gen Myint Aung and senior military officers.
Lt-Gen Kyaw Win inspected training of Anawrahta Parade column in the parade ground and gave necessary instructions. Then, he inspected practising of Bayintnaung Parade column and presented cash awards to parade companies and instructors.
Afterwards, Lt-Gen Kyaw Win inspected parade companies, bathrooms, messing halls and kitchen, fish, meat and vegetable shops, health care group, convenience stores, and shops. He gave instructions on cleanliness, serving of hygienic and nutritious food, providing of better medical care services and selling of items at reasonable prices at the shops.
Lt-Gen Kyaw Win also inspected Kyansittha Parade column under training at the local battalion in South Okkalapa Township. He gave necessary instructions and presented cash awards to parade companies and instructors.
He then inspected the communication station and convenience shops and left there at 11.45 am.
Wooden bridge built in Palaw
Palaw Township Development Affairs Committee is building a wooden bridge, 200 feet long and 12 feet wide, across Palawgon Creek in Palaw Township.
The committee is spending K 1,625,000 from the funds of the committee for 2002-2003 financial year and donations of the local people. On 10 February, Township Development Affairs Committee Executive Officer
U Tin Ohn and officials supervised the construction works.
Self-reliant earth road opened in Kyonpyaw
Kyonpyaw Township Development Affairs Committee opened the self-reliant earthen Shwekyaung Road in Aung San Ward, Kyonpyaw Township, on 9 February morning.
Chairman of Township Peace and Development Council U Soe Lin, Township Development Affairs Committee Engineer U Myo Tint Swe and authorities formally opened the 1.2 miles long and 14 feet wide road.
Lecture given to students of matriculation exam in Danubyu
Professor U Aung Zaw and faculty members of Maubin University lectured how to answer science and arts subjects of the matriculation examination at Danubyu Basic Education High School on 19 February.
Chairman of Maubin District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Thein Hlaing and officials, the headmaster and teachers and over 1,200 students of
two BEHSs and seven BEHS (branches) were present.
Gravel road built in Shwebo
Officials of Shwebo Township Development Affairs Committee supervised construction of Naungdawgyi gravel road in Minyat, Ward 5, Shwebo Township, on 20 January. The road will be 900 feet long and 12 feet wide and cost K 128,000.
Road linking villages opened in Pyawbwe
The road linking Htantabin and Hseywa villages of Chaungmagyi Village-tract was put back into service at the road in Pyawbwe Township on 12 February morning.
Chairman of Pyawbwe Township Peace and Development Council U Tin Maung Kyi opened the road which is 18 feet wide and four furlongs long.
It cost over K 500,000 for construction of the road. Also present on the occasion were Township Police Force Commander Police Capt Aung Than, Secretary of Township USDA U Tin Maung Win, service personnel and local people.
Kyaikmin-Kalawt-Kyaungsu road opened in Thanatpin
Kyaikmin-Kalawt-Kyaungsu earth road, 9,850 feet long and 8 feet wide, was opened on the road in Thanatpin Township on 16 February.
Atithitayon Monastery Sayadaw Bhaddanta Indaçakka of Kyaukmin-Kalawt Village and local
authorities opened the road. Now, local people of Kyaikmin-Kalawt, Kyaungsu, Taungsu, Minywa
villages can travel to Bago and Thanatpin townships easily.
Rice, provisions to members of the Sangha in Nyaungdon
The 11th rice offering ceremony of Sasana Nuggaha Market Rice Offering Association of Nyaungdon Township was held at Myoma Development Market in Nyaungdon on 1 February. Wellwishers offered one basket of rice, gram and provisions each to 825 members of the Sangha and nuns.
Mon-Myanmar Pariyatti Written Exam held in Chaungzon
The 48th Mon-Myanmar Pariyatti Written Examination, organized by Chaungzon Township All Sangha Gana Pariyatti Hitakari Organization, was held at Sasana Beikman in Chaungzon from 5 to 11 February. A total of 227 members of the Sangha from monasteries in Mawlamyine District took the examination.
The Township Sangha Nayaka Committee Sayadaws and officials supervised the examination.
Computer Network Cabling course opens
Yangon, 25 Feb — Under the arrangements of Tyco Electronics Corporation and ACIT Co, AMP ACTI (Installing Premises Cabling System) computer networking cabling course was opened today at MICT Park and it will continue tomorrow. Those who have finished the course will receive Network Installer certificate. At the course, methods on computer network building are being taught with the use of Copper Cable and Fiber Optic Cable. A paper reading session on computer network under the title “Structured Cabling” will be held at the same venue from 9 am to 12 noon on 27 February.
International Relations
Information Minister receives Laotian Ambassador
Yangon, 25 Feb — Ambassador of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic Mr Chanthavy Bodhisane called on Minister for Information Brig-Gen Kyaw Hsan at the latter’s office here this afternoon.
Yangon, 25 Feb — Chinese goodwill delegation led by Vice-Chairman of the State Sports Bureau of the PRC Vice-President of World Wushu Federation Mr Li Zhijian arrived back here this evening after visiting Maha Myat Muni Pagoda, Bahtoo Sport Grounds and Myanan San Kyaw Golden Palace in Mandalay and pagodas and the Cultural Museum in Bagan-NyaungU on 24 and 25 February. They were welcomed at Yangon International Airport by Vice-Chairman of Myanmar Olympic Committee Vice-Adjutant-General Maj-Gen Maung Nyo and officials.
Malaysian delegation leaves for home
Yangon, 25 Feb — The Malaysian delegation led by Minister of Primary Industries of Malaysia Dato' Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik and party left here this afternoon.
They were seen off at Yangon International Airport by Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Ambassador of Malaysia to Myanmar Mr Dato' Cheah Sam Kip and officials.
Religion
Stakes driven, cornerstones laid for construction of Shwedagon Replica Mingala Siddhi Labha Muni Pagoda in Dagon Myothit (South) Township
Yangon, 25 Feb — A ceremony to drive stakes and lay cornerstones for construction of an 18-cubit Shwedagon Replica Mingala Siddhi Labha Muni Pagoda to be kept at the Thirigonwai Dhamma Beikman Monastery in No 1 Agriculture and Livestock Breeding Village (Laydauntkan), Dagon Myothit (South) Township, took place at the monastery this morning.
It was attended by Member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of the Central Organizing Committee of Myanmar War Veterans Organization Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Thein Sein, Minister for Commerce Brig-Gen Pyi Sone, Minister for Health Professor Dr Kyaw Myint, Vice-Quartermaster-General Maj-Gen Htin Aung Kyaw, Director of Resettlement Maj-Gen Aung Thein, Defence Services Provost Marshall Maj-Gen Saw Hla, Deputy Minister for Forestry Col Thaik Tun, Deputy Minister for Home Affairs Brig-Gen Thura Myint Maung, Deputy Minister for Labour Brig-Gen Win Sein, Vice-Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa, departmental heads, senior military officers, well-wishers, members of the regal procession troupe and drum troupe and local residents.
Presiding Nayaka of Thiri Gonwai Dhamma
Beikman Monastery Sayadaw Tha-Sa-Ah Dhammacariya Vinaya Pali Specialist Bhaddanta Panña Sihabhivamsa administered the Nine Precepts to the congregation.
Next, lay persons presented paritta sand, flowers and thread to members of the Sangha, who then recited parittas. The laity sprinkled and tied paritta thread, sand and flowers at the precinct of the pagoda.
Adjutant-General Lt-Gen Thein Sein supplicated on religious matters and presented the gems casket and the cornerstone to members of the Sangha. The Adjutant-General and party then presented offertories to members of the Sangha.
Together with the regal procession troupe and lay persons, the Adjutant-General and party conveyed cornerstones and stone plaques to the precinct. At the auspicious time, they drove the stakes.
The Adjutant-General enshrined the gems casket, cornerstone and stone plaques. The Adjutant-General and party laid cornerstones at the designated sites and sprinkled scented water on them. Rituals of golden and silver showers were performed to mark the successful completion of the ceremony.
Then, the cash donations presentation ceremony followed at the same venue. The donations amounted to K 14,470,200 including K 2 million each donated by the Central Organizing Committee of MWVO and U Yu Kyi and family; K 1 million each by YCDC, Daw Thaung May and family, U Than Naing-Daw Myint Myint Aye and family, and U Tun Tin Nwe and family; K 500,000 each by U Kyaw Win Swe (Five Stone Co Ltd), U Hla Myint-Daw Myint Myint Kyi and family, Dr Aye Kyaw (Kyaw Traditional Medicine Production), Sliver Wave Co Ltd, U Khin Maung Tun (Htet Lin Traditional Medicine House), U Aung Mon-Daw Hla Hla Maw, U Myo Aung-Daw Khin Yee Mon (Sun Myanmar Co Ltd), U Thaing Win-Daw Htay Htay Nyunt (BTB Co Ltd), KN U Tin Win and family, and U Tun Shwe (Tun Shwe Traditional Medicine Production); and K 300,000 by U Khin Maung Shwe.
The Adjutant-General and party accepted the donations.
The Presiding Nayaka Sayadaw delivered a sermon, followed by sharing of merits gained.
Later, the Adjutant-General and party attended ceremony to open the entrance laterite road to the station hospital in No 1 Agriculture and Livestock Breeding Village (Laydauntkan) and to present cash donations to hail the 58th Anniversary of Armed Forces Day at 10 am.
Chairman of Than-myanthu Bus Lines Supervisory Committee Major Kyaw Sein (Retd), Chairman of Village Peace and Development Council U Ohn Kyaw and Chairman of Committee for Ensuring Construction of the Road Major Tin Oo (Retd) formally opened the road.
The Adjutant-General and party inspected the road.
The ceremony to present cash donations was held at the hospital. The Adjutant-General spoke of the need for rural development tasks. Maj-Gen Aung Thein explained the purpose of the donation. The donations for renovation of the hospital totalled K 4.55 million including K 1.3 million donated by World Vision group; K 1 million by the MWVO Central Organizing Committee; K 500,000 by Haji U Hla Aung (Maha Bawgawady International Co); and K 300,000 by Thanmyanthu Syndicate Committee.
Then, the donations for the entrance road totalled K 4.05 million including K 1.15 million donated by Thanmyanthu Bus Lines Nos 76,79, 81 and 88; K 1 million by Thanmyanthu Bus Lines Nos 85, 86, 87 and 91; K 950,000 by Lines Nos 77, 80 and 89; K 900,000 by Lines Nos 82, 83 and 84; and K 50,000 by Haji U Hla Aung (Maha Bawgawady International Co).
The Adjutant-General and party accepted the donations and presented certificates of honour to the wellwishers.
Dr Tun Nay Aung expressed words of thanks.
Yangon, 25 Feb — The Myan-mar Open 2003 golf tournament, sponsored by Rothmans of Pall Mall Myanmar Pte Ltd, and Myanmar Professional Golfers Association and Asian Professional Golfers Association (Asian PGA), will be held as an international tournament at Yangon Golf Club, Danyingon, from 27 February to 2 March.
Myanmar Open Meet the Players Press Conference took place at the media centre of the Yangon Golf Club this afternoon and it was attended by Asian PGA leading players Kyi Hla Han and Zaw Moe of Myanmar, Champion Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, Anthony Kang of the United States, James Kingston of South Africa, Kevin Na of Republic of Korea, Myanmar Foreign Correspondents Club Vice-President U Aung Shwe Oo and members, journalists and guests.
At the conference, MPGA General Secretary U Chan Han and Mr Lee Hak made speeches. Thongchai, Kevin Na, Kyi Hla Han and Zaw Moe recounted their experiences, explained how they were in training to win and gave comments.
Then, questions raised by those present were replied by the star players and MPGA General Secretary U Chan Han.
About star players
Kevin Na, winner of last year's Volvo Masters of Asia and the 2002 Rookie of the Year, is regaining his top form. Finishing 6-under, in the star-studded Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth, Kevin is ready for this week's Myanmar Open, and is someone golfing fans should be keeping an eye on. Thai player Prom Meesawat is currently one of the leading amateurs in Asia, having taken the Putra Cup (individual) title last year. He will be familiar to many of the Myanmar players who competed against him in last year's Putra Cup and is another young player to watch.
The event will be enhanced by a generous hole-in-one prize from Myanmar Airways International on the challenging 15th hole. In addition, the top scoring Myanmar player will receive a special new trophy from Rothmans of Pall Mall, a free flight to the next international tournament, and a prize of US$ 500 from new international promoters, Octagon.
The Myanmar Open is celebrating its 8th year in 2003. Co-sponsors for the event include MAI, Sedona Hotel (Ygn), Wilson, Taylormade, Canon (Accel) MIMs Logistics, Loi Hein purified water and Max Myanmar. It is organized by Han Event Management and Octagon.
