Vice President U Myint Swe presents literary awards

November 30, 2016

Vice President U Myint Swe urged Myanmar writers to contribute to the development of the country at the literary awards presentation ceremony at the National Theatre in Yangon yesterday.

“Writers are urged to participate in the developmental trends of the country with the belief that the profession of writing is a form of performing national duty in accordance with the advice of Doyen Literati Sayagyi Zaw Gyi” U Myint Swe said. “A good piece of writing can only be created with goodwill”.

The literature, culture and arts of Myanmar people have been thriving for thousands of years, and as Theravada Buddhists, Myanmar monks and laymen literati of the ancient times created their work out of the Buddhist principles like 38 kinds of auspiciousness and commiseration, promoting the status of Myanmar literature and culture, according to the vice president.

The vice president said literature is the main pillar of other forms of arts such as movies, music and performing arts and is a field where national identity and culture are fully reflected. There is a saying, he said: “High literary standards reflect the prestige of race.”

Therefore, the vice president said that the government presents prizes for good literary work every year to honor writers and doyen literati.

At the end of the ceremony, the vice president urged writers to create literary works that can promote the image of the country.

Prize-winning literary books in 16 categories were selected by a 68-member board of literary scholars and experienced publishers from 480 books that were published for the first time in 2015.

Lifelong Literary Awards went to Sayagyi U Tin Kha (Tekkatho Tin Kha) and Dr Lwin Lwin Mon (Professor of Anthropology, Yadanabon University), who accepted the prize on behalf of her father Sayagyi U Win Mon (Tekkatho Win Mon).

Union Ministers Dr Pe Myint, U Thein Swe and U Ohn Maung and Chief Minister of Yangon Region U Phyo Min Thein presented national literary awards to the other winners.

After the ceremony, the vice president and party posed for documentary photos with the prize winners.

Commander of Yangon Command Maj-Gen Myo Zaw Thein presented Ks1.5 million each, honoraria of Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, to the two winners of lifelong national literary awards.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar