LITERATURE, traditional culture and gems captured the attention of Thailand’s Princess Sirindhorn during her visit to Myanmar last week, a Thai diplomat said. The five-day visit, the second to Myanmar by Princess Sirindhorn in 17 years, was at the invitation of the Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council, Senior General Than Shwe. Princess Sirindhorn met Senior General Than Shwe at the Seinle Kantha state guesthouse on Takatho Yeiktha Road last Monday, when her visit began. Senior General Than Shwe and his wife, Daw Kyaing Kyaing, hosted a banquet in honour of the Princess at the Pyithu Hluttaw (parliament house) on Pyay Road that evening. The banquet was also attended by the SPDC’s Secretary 1, General Khin Nyunt, and other senior members of the SPDC and the government. Princess Sirindhorn’s itinerary last Monday included a visit to the Bagan bookshop on 37th Street, where she viewed some rare English-language books on Myanmar history written by Myanmar and foreign authors. She also examined some books on Theravada Buddhism. The Princess met members of the Thai business community during a luncheon last Monday at the Pyay Road residence of the Thai ambassador, Mr Oum Maolanon. Last Monday afternoon, she travelled to Bago, about 50 miles north of Yangon, where she visited a Myanmar traditional dance school and the Kanbawzathadi Golden Palace of King Bayintnaung, who ruled Myanmar during the 16th century. Last Tuesday, the Princess travelled to Mandalay to begin a four-day tour of some of the country’s most famous tourist attractions. She visited the moated palace of the last Myanmar monarch, King Thibaw, who was sent into exile by the British colonial authorities in 1885, and also saw a demonstration of gold foil production, a traditional craft for which Mandalay is famous. Princess Sirindhorn left Mandalay last Tuesday and travelled via Lashio to the Shan State town of Muse, on the border with China. During a visit to the gem shops in Muse, the Princess viewed 52 types of precious stones available in Myanmar. On March 12, the Princess travelled across the border to the Chinese town of Jiegao, where she was welcomed by a senior political officer in the Yunan provincial government, Mr Jianjo Jian. She visited an industrial zone and a Buddhist monastery in Jiegao before returning to Muse. Her journey in Myanmar also included visits to Putao, in Kachin State, and the ancient city of Mrauk U in Rakhine State. She travelled from the Rakhine State capital, Sittwe, to Yangon last Friday before returning to Bangkok. The Princess was accompanied on her journey throughout Myanmar by the Foreign Minister, U Win Aung.
– Thet Khaing