Wazira Cinema to become Red Carpet Theatre

Chairman of the State Administration Council, Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, inspected a plan to upgrade Wazira Cinema as a Red Carpet Theatre and the progress of constructing Sarso Beikman (Literati House) in Yangon yesterday morning.

Accompanied by the Council Joint Secretary, SAC members, Union ministers, the Yangon Region Chief Minister, the commander of Yangon Command, and Chairman of Myanmar Motion Pictures Organization Director Kyi Soe Tun, the Senior General arrived at Wazira Cinema under the Department of Information and Public Relations of the Ministry of Information on Bogyoke Aung San Street in Kyauktada Township of Yangon Region. Union Minister for Information U Maung Maung Ohn reported to the Senior General on a plan to upgrade Wazira Cinema to the Red Carpet Theatre, the brief history of the cinema, architectural works, the process to upgrade the cinema and results upon completion of the project. MMPO Chairman Director Kyi Soe Tun also clarified the screening of movies at Wazira Cinema in successive eras and its history, and the maintenance process. After hearing the reports, the Senior General stressed the need to upgrade the cinema to meet international standards. He underlined that the upgrading process must be systematic, without losing the original state, aligned with documentary photos. The Senior General gave guidance that emphasis must be placed on setting systematic car parks around the cinema and constructing the pedestrian ways.

After viewing round the cinema, the Senior General gave necessary guidance to officials.

Wazira Cinema was built in 1923, and it is an ancient building decorated with Beaux Arts mixed with French architectural works used between the 16th and 18th centuries. According to the information, Wazira Cinema will be upgraded to a Red Carpet Theatre.

The Senior General inspected the project site of constructing Sarso Beikman (Literati Building) in honour of prominent literati and writers of Myanmar on Bo Min Khaung Road in Uyin Ward of Mingala Taungnyunt Township.

The Union Minister for Information reported to the Senior General on the construction of a three-storey Sarso Beikman building, formation of relevant committees to systematically construct the building, the process of a quality control team, plans to display booths on relevant flats, and preparations to transform the previous three-storey to the Sarpay Beikman Public Library.

In his response to the reports, the Senior General gave guidance to systematically construct buildings meeting standards within the set period. Upon completion, he added that photos and historical documents must be put on display there. He noted that arrangements must be made to manage the space in a way that allows for quiet and peaceful reading and studies of people in order to encourage reading habits of the people. He stressed the need to carry out greening and beautification around the building.

The Senior General inspected the progress of construction works and gave necessary guidance to officials.

The Sarpay Beikman building is being constructed as a three-storey structure. Upon completion, it will include exhibition halls featuring historical records and photographs related to literary development activities, reading rooms and a library, exhibitions of historic musical and artistic works, displays of palmleaves and folded papers, showcases of historically significant poems, exhibits of award-winning literary works, and sections dedicated to renowned writers from three generations in Myanmar, as well statues of prominent literary figures and poets who received lifetime literary achievement awards.

The former Sarpay Beikman Library was located on the first floor of the original three-storey Sarpay Beikman building. In light of the current population growth and urban development, under the guidance of the Chairman of the State Administration Council and Prime Minister, the building will be renovated and reopened as the Sarpay Beikman Public Library. This initiative, in line with the motto “From Darkness to Light,” aims to enhance the intellectual development of citizens, support the advancement of Myanmar literature, promote public knowledge, and encourage reading habits.

MNA/TTA

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