Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla paid a visit to the thanksgiving ceremony for Christmas that was held at Saint Michael Cathedral located in No 1 Yanaung Ward, Pyinmana Township, Nay Pyi Taw Council Territory yesterday afternoon, according to the Myanmar News Agency.
Chairman of Nay Pyi Taw Council of Churches Rev Dr Tin Maung Aye, Bishop of Saint Michael Cathedral Father Soe Lin Aung, bishops, and other relevant personnel welcomed the arrival of the Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla at the St Michael Cathedral.
The ceremony was opened by singing choirs for the Christian worship sung by Bishop Soe Lin Aung of Saint Michael Cathedral and Christian youths.
When Nay Pyi Taw Churches Council Chairman Rev Dr Tin Maung Aye made an auspicious speech, saying that he and his fellows were glad and thanked the Senior General for his presence at the ceremony, despite his handful schedules, as his love and kindness to the ethnicities and the people have been shown; strong desire for peace and tranquillity of the State has also been witnessed; and also his values and profound respects to the Christian believers were all observed in the visit of Senior General to the Thanksgiving ceremony.
The Senior General also made a speech.
Speaking on the occasion, the Senior General said it is a glad to hold the auspicious Christmas Festival, and a blessing is wished for all global citizens, Myanmar citizens, and all Christian people to be settled with Christ’s love.
The Senior General said in his speech that it is a sharing and delivering of Christ’s great kindness, love, and sympathy to all human beings that hold the worship ceremony of Christmas; all people should build the true essence of Christmas by sharing kindness and love to each other; and only then, could the world be safe and stable with peaceful and prosperous human society.
In the speech of the Senior General, it was highlighted that all religions, including Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism, are all recognized together with the Buddhism that the majority of Myanmar citizens believe in and value; all faiths are allowed for all ethnic people who believe in different religions in line with the existing laws as long as those activities don’t impact on others; and all religions officially recognized are truly assisted and safeguarded as per the provision prescribed in the Constitution.
The Senior General affirmed that the ancestors of all Christians, Islams, Hindus, and other religions developed the well-being of the country with mutual respect and unity, together with the majority of Buddhists in Myanmar, without hurting and discriminating against each other.
As the State Administration Council always opens doors for peace, Tatmadaw is always ready for peace and invites and welcomes peace talks; every government that takes office in every administration term makes their steadfast efforts for peace as a bound by duty.
The Senior General also urged the Christian bishops, clergies, and believers to be involved in every aspect of constructing the durable peace for the region and the country they reside in by their utmost efforts.
In his speech, the Senior General encouraged all to collaborate to restore the peace, stability, and security of Myanmar soon and ensure the peaceful coexistence of all religions in the country commencing on the auspicious Christmas Day 2023.
Afterwards, Chairman of the SAC Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla were involved in singing a choir together with the Christian community.
Bishop of Saint Michael Cathedral Father Soe Lin Aung, and the nun Naw Judaic cordially provided Christmas gifts to the SAC Chairman and wife. Also, the Senior General and wife offered fruits and donations as Christmas gifts in return.
After all, the SAC Chairman, wife, and attendees had lunch with the Christian community. — MNA/ TMT
