• Lt-Gen Ye Myint visits Sayadaws in Mandalay, inspects Ayeyawady Bridge (Yadanabon) Project
• Commander attends work coord meeting of Bago Division Police Force

• Parade columns practise drills
• Commander inspects agricultural, regional development tasks in Thanlyin, Kyauktan Townships
• Yangon Command wins Defence Services C-in-C's volleyball trophy
• Winners in Military Code of Conduct, Extempore Talks Contests announced

• 33.7 acres of poppy fields destroyed

Yangon, 10 March - Member of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Ye Myint of the Ministry of Defence, together with Mandalay Division Peace and Development Council Chairman Central Command Commander Maj-Gen Ye Myint, arrived at Mandalay General Hospital yesterday.

Next, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party presented offertories to State Ovadacariya Sayadaw of Phayagyitaik Naya Monastery in Chanmyathazi Township, Mandalay, Agga Maha Pandita Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma-jotika Bhaddanta Medhiya-bhivamsa who is receiving medical treatment, and asked after the health of the Sayadaw. Next, they visited Masoeyein Kyaungtaik (Taik-haung) in Nyaunggon Ward, East Daywun, Maha-aungmye Township and presented offertories to Sayadaw Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Pan-a Samibhivamsa. They also presented offertories to Sayadaw of Kyapyan Pitaka Monastery of Taungpyin Htilintaik in Chanmyathazi Township Agga Maha Sahddhamma Jotikadhaja Bhaddanta Pan-avamsa. They asked after the health of the Sayadaw of Mawlamyine Webyan Monastery who is temporarily residing at the Kyaungtaik.

Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party proceeded to the Ayeyawady Bridge (Yadanabon) Project on Mandalay bank, where they were welcomed by Chairman of Mandalay City Development Committee Mayor Brig-Gen Yan Thein, Secretary Lt-Col Maung Pu and officials. At the project, Deputy Superintending Engineer U Htay Myint reported on tasks being carried out for installation of steel beams to the facility. Lt-Gen Ye Myint left necessary instructions and inspected the construction site. Accompanied by officials, Lt-Gen Ye Myint and party looked into the requirements of the project on Sagaing bank. Officials reported on arrangements for construction of a railroad under the approach road.

Lt-Gen Ye Myint gave instructions to the officials. Afterwards, he met with departmental personnel in TadaU Township Peace and Development Council. At the meeting, Lt-Gen Ye Myint gave a speech, calling on local residents to cooperate with the government in taking charge of the undertakings for regional development. He added that the Prime Minister, in his inspection tour, had already fulfilled the requirements of the region.

In this regard, local people and departments are to make combined efforts in harmony, he urged. Next, Lt-Gen Ye Myint presented a computer set to TadaU Basic Education High School through the headmaster. Lt-Gen Ye Myint arrived back here by air in the afternoon.

Yangon, 10 March - Bago Division Police Force held its work coordination meeting in Toungoo on 8 March, with an address by Chairman of Bago Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Southern Command Maj-Gen Ko Ko. Division Police Commander Police Col Thein Kyi explained the accomplishments and future programmes of the Divisional Police Force.

Yangon, 10 March - Tatmadawmen, Myanmar Police Force members, Fire Brigade and Red Cross Brigade members of Anawrahta, Kyansittha, Bayintnaung, Nawade, Aungzeya, Hsinbyushin, Bandoola, Myawady and Aung San Columns led by Parade Commander Brig-Gen Min Thein and Reserve Parade Commander Col Nyi Tun participated in the practising drills from Myoma Ground to the Resistance Park from 6 am to 10 am today.

Vice-Chiefs of Armed Forces Training Maj-Gen Win Myint, Maj-Gen Aung Kyi and Brig-Gen Nyan Win, senior military officers and officials inspected the drill practising of the columns.

Yangon, 10 March - Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myint Swe, inspected agricultural and regional development tasks in Thanlyin and Kyauktan Townships this morning.

On arrival at the construction site of the six-lane road project to link Yangon-Thanlyin Bridge-2 and the road to Thilawa Industrial Zone, the commander and party were welcomed by Chairman of Yangon South District Peace and Development Council Lt-Col Aung Pyay and officials.

At the briefing hall, Superintending Engineer U Nyunt Maung San of Public Works reported on facts about the road construction project. The commander gave instructions on the road construction project to be implemented systematically for ensuring contribution to development of agricultural tasks in Thanlyin and Kyauktan townships and timely completion of the construction tasks meeting the set standard.

Next, the commander inspected progress in building Yangon-Thanlyin Bridge-2 and heard reports on construction of the bridge by officials. The commander gave necessary instructions. The commander and party proceeded to the construction site of Ngasein Creek Bridge located on the road under construction to link Yangon-Thanlyin Bridge-2 and the road to Thilawa Industrial Zone. Officials of Bridge Construction-16 reported on progress of works. The commander gave instructions on work site safely and timely completion of the construction tasks meeting the set standard. Then, the commander inspected construction of the six-lane earth road with the use of heavy machinery. The road will be 10 miles and two furlongs long. Afterwards, the commander and party arrived at the construction site of Bawt Creek Bridge on the six-lane road and completion of the tasks.

The commander then inspected thriving summer paddy on both banks of Bawt Creek. Next, the commander and party saw over completion of the six-lane road and construction of four box culverts on that road. At Nyaungwaing agricultural educative camp in Kyauktan Township, the commander inspected 200 acres of thriving high-yield summer paddy irrigated by Bantbwegon Dam. After meeting with local farmers, the commander gave instructions on arrangements to be made for water availability so as to extend cultivation of summer paddy in Thanlyin and Kyauktan townships.

Yangon, 10 March - Final matches of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief's trophy Army, Navy, Air Force volleyball tourney was held at the gymnasium of South-East Command on 4 March. In the women's match, Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) won the championship trophy, Yangon Command second prize, and Central Command third prize. In the men's match, Yangon Command won the championship trophy, Central Command second prize, and South-West Command third prize. Commander of South-East Command Maj-Gen Thura Myint Aung presented the championship trophies to the winning teams.

Yangon, 10 March - Winners in the 59th Anniversary Armed Forces Day Commemorative Military Code of Conduct and Extempore Talks Contests were announced today. Military Code of Conduct Contest The first prize went to 2nd-Lt Min Thu of the office of the Commander-in-Chief (Navy), the second to Capt Daw Phyu Phyu Phwe Myint of Yangon Command and the third to Lt Kyaw Zaw Lin of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Air) in the officer level contest.

WOII Nyunt Win of Yangon Command won the first prize, WO Kyaw Aye of the Camp Commandant's Office of the Ministry of Defence the second and Air Navigator-I Aung Zaw Tun of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Air) the third in the WO level contest. Lance Corporal Than Oo of Yangon Command secured the first prize in the Cpl level contest, Sgt Aung Kyaw Htay of the Camp Commandant's Office of the Ministry of Defence the second and Cpl Than Htay of Yangon Command the third. In the Pvt level contest, Pvt Nyan Soe of the Camp Commandant's Office of the Ministry of Defence won the first prize, AB Kyaw Min Tun of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) the second and Pvt Myo Nyunt of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Air) the third. Extempore Talks Contest In the officer level contest, Capt Lin Thu of South-West Command won the first prize, Capt Daw Khin Hnin Myint of Yangon Command the second and 2nd-Lt Thein Zaw Oo of Coastal Region Command the third. In the WO level contest, the first prize went to Air Navigator-I Aung Than Tun of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief , the second prize to Senior Air Signaller Soe Lwin Moe of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Air) and the third prize to WOII Soe Thein of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Navy). Similarly, Sgt Phyo Maung Hla of Yangon Command, Cpl Myo Swe of North-West Command and L/Cpl Thet Myint Htwe of South-West Command won first, second and third prizes respectively.

Pvt Kyaw Zeya of South-West Command secured the first prize, Pvt Ye Zaw Htoo of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Air) the second and AB Aung Zaw Win of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Navy) the third in the Pvt level contest.

Yangon, 10 March - A ceremony to donate cash to Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association was held at the multi-purpose building of the association at the corner of Thanthuma and Parami Roads in South Okkalapa Township this morning.

Singapore Association of Myanmar (SAM) President Mr Chandran Menon explained the purpose of the donations. Next, Singaporean Ambassador Mr Simon Tensing de Cruz handed over K 3.5 million donated by SAM to President of MMCWA Dr Daw Khin Win Shwe.

Next, the president of MMCWA presented a certificate of honour to the ambassador and spoke words of thanks. Also present on the occasion were Vice-President of MMCWA Dr Daw Tin Lin Myint and CEC members, guests and wellwishers.

Yangon, 10 March - A combined team comprising Tatmadaw members of the local battalion, members of Military Intelligence Unit, members of Myanmar Police Force, departmental personnel and local people destroyed 33.7 acres of opium poppy plantations in the surrounding areas of Padumone and Nanpok Creek in Hkamti Township on 19 and 20 February. The teams are destroying the illegal poppy fields during the poppy cultivation season for 2003-2004.