5 May

President U Win Myint accompanied by Union Ministers Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Dr. Myint Htwe, U Han Zaw and U Ohn Maung, Taninthayi Region Chief Minister U Myint Maung, Coastal Command Commander Maj-Gen Thaung Htike Shwe, Myanmar Police Force Police Lt-Gen Aung Win Oo and officials left Dawei by Tatmadaw special flight and arrived in Myeik Town, Taninthayi Region, yesterday morning.

The President and party were welcomed by Region ministers, Hluttaw representatives, district and township level departmental officials and locals at the Myeik airport.

The President and party then went to pay homage to Shwe Tha Lyaung image on Kyunsu Township opposite of Myeik town and offered flowers, water, and oil lamps and donated money. Later the President took a commemorative group photo with pagoda trustees after going around the pagoda.

Next, the President and party went to Daweisu Ward in Myeik and observed swiftlet birds making nests at a natural swiftlet nest house. Officials explained to the President about the process of swiftlet birds making nests and collecting the nests.

Afterwards, the President and party went by motorcade to Taninthayi Town and inspected the Taninthayi Bridge construction project conducted by Bridge Department Special Bridge Construction Group 4.

At the project briefing hall Bridge Department Director General U Shwe Lay explained about construction of roads and bridges in Taninthayi Region, particulars about the Taninthayi Bridge and the Thamote Lut Lut Bridge projects.

The President said the government was sharing funds for equal development of states and region and the quality and standard of works conducted need to be in accord with the allocated funds. Funds must be systematically used to prevent wastage. Once the bridge was completed special care must be taken to ensure that cars and trucks crossing the bridge were within the specified weight limit. Construction of roads and bridges need to be completed on time while it must be up to the set standards and specifications. The people will benefit as soon as the construction was completed. Once roads, bridges and the electricity sector develop, the education, health and economic sectors of rural people will develop and in turn develop their socio-economic lives. Technicians and experts must employ their skills to participate in nation-building works, and they must strive to be models for future generations, said the President.

The President then inspected the construction status of the Taninthayi Bridge. The Taninthayi Bridge spans theTaninthayi River and is located between mile post 49/4 and 49/6 on Dawei-Myeik-Taninthayi-Bokpyin ASEAN Road AH 112. The bridge will be 1,444 ft. long, 28 ft. wide with additional 4 ft. pedestrian path on both sides of the bridge. Maximum vehicle weight permitted is 75 tons and it is a two-lane, steel frame reinforced concrete floor bridge.

Later in the afternoon the President and party left Myeik Town by Tatmadaw special flight and reached Nay Pyi Taw in the evening. — MNA (Translated by Zaw Min)