25 August 2024
Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, SAC Joint Secretary General Ye Win Oo and his wife, council members General Maung Maung Aye and his wife, Lt-Gen Yar Pyae and General Nyo Saw and his wife, Union ministers U Min Naung and U Myo Thant, senior military officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Central Command and officials, inspected maintenance and preservation of ancient historical religious edifices and cultural heritages in Mandalay and paid homage to eminent pagodas.
Inspecting preparation for construction of Sishay Bridge
Arriving in the Mandalay royal city, the Senior General and party inspected maintenance of the western wall of the royal city and construction for Sishay Bridge. Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Daw Nu Mya Zan reported on the brief history of the bridge and its evidences and Union Minister for Construction U Myo Thant on plans underway to rebuild Sishay Bridge.
In his response to the reports, the Senior General stressed the need to build the bridge in its original designs and improve the roads connecting the bridge systematically. The Senior General added that reconstruction measures must be taken systematically, and left necessary guidance.
Maha Atulawaiyan (Atumashi) Monastery
The Senior General, his wife and party arrived at Maha Atulawaiyan (Atumashi) Moanstery. They paid homage to Culamuni Buddha in the monastery and offered alms in the alms-bowl, fruits, flowers, water and oil lights.
The Senior General viewed keeping the image and gave guidance on perpetual existence and magnificence of the image. The Senior General and his wife donated cash to the fund for overall renovation of the monastery. The Senior General then signed the visitors’ book of the monastery.
The Senior General, his wife and party viewed documentary photos on conveyance of the image and then went round the monastery to observe long-term existence of the monastery and documentaries on maintenance of the building in its original works, and left necessary instructions.
Shwenandaw Monastery (Golden Monastery)
The Senior General, his wife and party arrived at Shwenandaw Monastery (Golden Monastery) and paid homage to the Buddha image in the monastery. Then, they viewed round wooden sculptural decorated arts and crafts, reliefs, animal and bird statues, wall reliefs and handicrafts portraying 10 major Jataka, the episode of going into the jungle, Maha Paduma Jataka and Utena Jataka inside and outside the monastery. In his guidance, the Senior General stressed the need to systematically preserve the invaluable ancient historical heritages in generations. The Senior General said that it is necessary to continuously maintain and renovate the posts of the monastery for cleanliness and tidiness. The Senior General noted that the heritages must be set in the glass fence as the restricted area for their existence.
The Senior General urged officials to carefully reserve ancient heritages. If posts of the monastery are under maintenance and tidiness, it will attract larger number of travellers.
Maha Thetkya Marazain Kyauktawgyi Pagoda
Then, the Senior General and wife and party proceeded to Maha Thetkya Marazin Kyauktawgyi Pagoda built by King Mindon, who organized the 5th Synod, paid obeisance to Buddha images and offered flowers and water. Afterward, the Senior General and wife presented cash donations for allround renovation of the pagoda to the chairman and officials of the pagoda board of trustees. Then, they circled the pagoda clockwise and gave necessary instructions on the durability of the pagoda.
Maha Dhammikarama Shwekyin Main Monastery
Afterward, the Senior General and wife and party continued to Maha Dhammikarama Shwekyin Main Monastery, paid obeisance to Presiding Nayaka Sayadaw Agga Maha Pandita Bhaddanta Thutivara and offered alms and the Sayadaw presented a marble Buddha image as a Dhamma gift to the Senior General and wife.
Afterward, the Senior General and wife and party paid obeisance and offered flowers and water to the Buddha image in the teak monastery, which is more than 162 years old.
Then, they inspected the maintenance to the teak monastery and paid obeisance to statues of heads of the Shwekyin sect and viewed the photo gallery before giving necessary instructions on reports of officials for durability of the monastery and other needs.
Mya Nan San Kyaw Golden Palace
Afterward, the Senior General and party inspected the maintenance of the Mya Nan San Kyaw Golden Palace in the Mandalay Palace, where Deputy Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Daw Nu Mya Zan and officials reported to the Senior General on conservation of palace buildings and implementation of instructions given by the Senior General during his visit in May, 2023. The Senior General gave necessary instructions to them.
Then, the Senior General and party inspected historical documentary photographs and the display of royal household items and gave necessary instructions.
