Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla and officials, inspected inundation, loss and damage caused by the natural disaster in Bagan ancient cultural zone in a motorcade and gave necessary guidance on the afternoon of 15 May.
Sulamani Temple
At Sulamani Temple, the Senior General inspected pumping out of water from the temple being undertaken by security forces, departmental personnel and social welfare teams. Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Ko Ko and Director-General Dr Kyaw Oo Lwin of the Department of Archaeology and National Museum reported on inundation at precincts of stupas and temples in the ancient region and pumping out of water.
In his response, the Senior General stressed the need to fill soils in the precincts and systematically calculate construction of water outlets not to cause similar inundation in the future. Mural paintings must be covered with glass for long term existence, he added.
Yesterday morning, the Senior General inspected inundation, loss and damage at Ananda Temple, Htilominlo Pagoda and Shwezigon Pagoda in Bagan ancient cultural zone.
Ananda Temple
After paying homage to Ananda Temple, the Senior General viewed round inundation in precinct of the temple. Then, the Senior General underscored that it is necessary to preserve invaluable ancient works and make necessary preparations there not to cause inundation in disasters in the future.
The Senior General and party inspected preservation of Ananda brick monastery close to the northern wall of the temple and damage at the archway of the monastery. In his guidance, the Senior General highlighted that, as Ananda Brick Monastery is filled with many invaluable mural paintings on the walls of downstairs in Konbaung era, renovations must be conducted under systematic calculation. It is necessary to consult experts to build a roofed building to cover the whole brick monastery where valuable ancient cultural heritage works are located.
Htilominlo Pagoda
At Htilominlo Pagoda, the Senior General viewed round loss and damage inside and outside the pagoda and the upper terrace and stressed the need to maintain ancient cultural heritages at stupas and temples in the region. Officials must conduct research on formula of mixing of glue used in building pagodas in the past. If it succeeds, the glue can be used at renovation of ancient stupas and temples.
shwezigon Pagoda
At Shwezigon Pagoda, the Senior General viewed inundation in the precinct and instructed officials to renovate the pagoda for long term existence.
The Senior General stressed the need to translate stone inscriptions of the biography of King Kyansittha from the pagoda to Myanmar and English languages and show it on tablets for observation of local and foreign travellers.
Cash donations
The Senior General donated cash on his inspection tour of pagodas and temples in Bagan ancient cultural zone and cordially greeted pilgrims.
Natural disasters caused inundation at Shwezigon, Ananda, Dhammayangyi, Sulamani, Dhamma Razaka, Hsinphyushin Complex, Khayminga, Thabeikhmauk, Htilominlo, Lemyethna, Hsinpaung Oak Kyaung, the pagoda near Dhamma Razaka, Baganhmyaw, Ywahauggyi and Shwenanyintaw pagodas in Bagan. Some parts of eight ancient pagodas and buildings were damaged, and efforts are being made to complete the renovation as soon as possible. — MNA/TTA
