State Administration Council Chairman Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, SAC Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo and wife, the Union Ministers, the Chief of the General Staff (Army, Navy and Air) and wife and senior military officers of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief and their wives, visited Mann Shwesettaw Pagoda yesterday morning in Minbu (Sagu) in Minbu District in Magway Region.
Afterwards, the Senior General and wife and the entourage paid homage to Mann Shwesettaw Pagoda, Pada Pagoda and the Lower Foot Print of the Buddha, offering flowers, water and gold foils dedicated to the Lord Buddha. Next, the Senior General donated cash for the all-round renovation of the pagoda.
During his visit, the Senior General provided guidance for the building of a bailey bridge to facilitate the pilgrims coming to pay homage to the Lower Foot Print in Pada Pagoda, constructing a footpath to the pagoda and a small water retaining wall. The Senior General also told the responsible personnel to keep the surrounding areas clean and pleasant and to maintain properly the religious edifices to ensure their sustainability.
Next, the Senior General proceeded to Ahtet Settawya where they offered flowers, water and gold foils to the Lord Buddha. Then, the Senior General presented donations for the all-round renovation of the pagoda. While circumambulating Mann Shwesettaw Pagoda, the Senior General gave directives to the responsible personnel to maintain the Pagoda to ensure its sustainability, and in such doing, the maintenance is, he said, to be conducted in such a manner that would not affect its originality.
On 10 July 2014, families of the Tatmadaw (Army, Navy and Air) led by the Senior General and well-wishers donated a transparent glass cover which is five feet high and three inches thick weighing three tonnes on the lower foot print.
In the afternoon, the Senior General proceeded to Sekkyapadaung Pagoda in Legai Village-tract in Pwintbyu Township. At Shwepyiaye Pagoda, the Senior General observed the renovation of the Dhammayon. Next, he met village elders and discussed the development of their region. Then, he presented K5 million towards the regional development fund.
At Shinpin Sekkeinde Pagoda in Minbu, the Senior General offered flowers and water to the Lord Buddha, and then, presented the donation for the all-round renovation of the pagoda. Next, he met town elders from Minbu and Sagu. In response to the points raised by local elders, the Senior General pointed out that manufacturing based on agriculture and livestock breeding shall be encouraged for regional development, that it is necessary to supply sufficient water for cultivation and livestock breeding activities, that arrangements are underway to open the Institute of Livestock Breeding in Sagu and that manufacturing ought to be done with the raw materials available within the region.
Additionally, the Senior General emphasized that import substitution industrialization is needed to implement, that consumers’ behaviour is needed to change to keep fit and healthy, that people need to make concerted efforts to ensure quality education and that production of educated and trained people is important to effectuate the regional development. He also pointed out the importance of tourism, which can contribute dramatically towards regional development. Afterwards, the Senior General donated K10 million each for regional development and for the construction of the Minbu home for the aged.
Then, the Senior General circumambulated the Pagoda clockwise to pay homage to the Lord Buddha. Later in the evening, the Senior General and party visited Myathalun Pagoda in Magway. Afterwards, they proceeded to Kanna (Strand) Street to observe the cleanliness of the public area and provided guidance for the points raised by the responsible personnel.—MNA
