A ceremony to hoist a diamond orb, and a pennant-shaped vane atop Shwezigon replica pagoda in Ethnomir world culture city in Kaluga of Moscow in the Russian Federation was held in conjunction with the consecration ceremony on the full moon day of Waso 1384 ME, attended by members of the Sangha led by Chancellor of Sitagu International Buddhist Academies Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotika Maha Dhammakathika Bahujana Hitadhara Shwegyin Nikaya Chairman Shwegyin Sangharaja Sitagu Sayadaw Dr Bhaddanta Nyanissara, Vice-Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Kyaukme Sayadaw Dr Bhaddanta Candanassara, Tipitaka Sayadaw Bhaddanta Silakkhanda Bhivamsa and Rector of International Theravada Buddhist Missionary University Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Maha Dhammakathika Bahujana Hitadhara Maha Gandhavasaka Pandita Dr Bhaddanta Chekinda (Dhammaduta Sayadaw), the reverend father of Orthodox and lamas, Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, Konstantin Losifovich Kosachev, Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, Russian Deputy Minister for Defence Colonel General Alexander Vasilievich Fomin and officials.
The Senior General, wife and party conveyed the jewel-decorated diamond orb, pennant-shaped vane and round the pagoda clockwise and hoisted them atop the pagoda.
Sitagu Sayadaw expressed his pleasure in the successful completion of the ceremony. In his supplication, the Senior General expressed thanks to the Sitagu Sayadaw and members of the Sangha from Sitagu Buddha Vihara (Moscow) for their efforts to build the pagoda.
The Sitagu Sayadaw, the Senior General, the Russian Deputy Defence Minister and senior officers from Myanmar Tatmadaw and the Russian government beat the bell three times for the successful completion of the ceremony.
At the hall of the culture city, the Senior General met with scholarship officer trainees from Myanmar Tatmadaw in the Russian Federation. At the meeting, the Senior General said that it is necessary for Tatmadaw officers studying abroad for a long time to see the country’s political developments from true perspectives. They were born of the people and the Tatmadaw is part of the country. Therefore, the Tatmadaw is striving for the nation to be able to march staunchly on the path to democracy, the aspirations of the entire mass of people.
In 1988, people were so displeased with the single-party system that riots occurred all over the country and it was on the verge of collapse. The Tatmadaw had to rise to the occasion. In the first democratic election, a government led by U Thein Sein came to power and worked in concert with the Tatmadaw.
After the 2015 election, a new democratic government took office and capitalized on politics, economy and social and administrative sectors. The Tatmadaw requested the responsible personnel of the government to deal with the election fraud but the government did not give any attention to the Tatmadaw’s request. Therefore, the Tatmadaw had to take the responsibilities of the State in order that the country would not deviate from the path to democracy. The trainee Tatmadaw officers should truly understand that the Tatmadaw will not deviate from that path but will continue building a strong Union based on democracy and federalism, the Senior General elaborated.
Human resources play a very vital role in building a nation and so the Tatmadaw is striving for the development of educated human resources. Therefore, the Senior General called on the trainees to constantly learn for the sake of the country as well as for their own.
Afterwards, the Senior General presented gifts for trainees to a trainee representative.
At the invitation of President Mr Rustam Nurgaliyevich Minnikhanov of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Senior General and wife and party left for Kazan Airport of Kazan of the Republic of Tatarstan yesterday afternoon at a local standard time for paying a working visit. —MNA
