The bronze plaque installation ceremonies were held at National Library (Yangon), Customs House and Ministers’ Office (Secretariat) in Yangon Region yesterday.
The events were attended by Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Ko Ko, Yangon Region Natural Resources Minister U Zaw Win, Social Affairs Minister U Aung Win Thein, YCDC Deputy Chair (Deputy Mayor) U Nyi Nyi, director-general, directors and staff of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum, district and township administrators and invited guests.
Speaking at the ceremonies, the Union Minister said the ministry has released an order announcing over 100-year-old 208 buildings in 11 states and regions as listed buildings exercising the authority under Sub-section (b) of Section 34 of the 2015 Protection and Preservation of Ancient Monuments Law. There were 124 listed buildings in Yangon Region. The listed buildings are protected by the laws and rules and are also preserved in their original styles. There should be prominent signs for such listed buildings so the people know the value of structure and original artworks and protect them.
The National Library that received the plaque yesterday was an office of the British Oil Company, BOC in 1908 and became an office of Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprises in 1963. Currently, it has been a national library opened by the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture in 2017.
The Customs Office was constructed in 1913 and completed in 1915. The building replaced a wooden customs house first constructed in 1853. The red brick building is noted for its towering bracket clock and columned portico, with architectural adaptations to tropical weather conditions.
The Ministers’ Office (Secretariat) was a place for holding horse events in the past and was constructed in 1889 and completed in 1905.
It is a historic place as the national leaders were assassinated. It is the very place where the independence of the country was declared on 4 January 1948. — MNA
