Quake-hit buildings in need of repairs
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Many buildings in historic Innwa City damaged in a November 11 earthquake are still awaiting renovation. The damaged structures include centuries-old buildings and temples.
“Some ancient buildings and temples were hit by the earthquake. Mae Nu and two other temples have been renovated, but some others have not,” said an official involved in archaeological research at the National Museum and Library Department.
The structures of some buildings in Innwa – some of which are 200 years old – were weakened by the earthquake. Among the damaged buildings were Nan Myint Tower and Lay Htat Gyi Temple. Notices have been posted at the sites warning visitors not to enter.
Artists invited to festival in China
Myanmar artists have been invited to attend the Fourth China, South East Asia and South Asia TV Art Week in Kunming, China on June 5-7.
The art festival is jointly organised by the China TV Artist Association, Yunnan Literature and Art Federation, Yunnan International Culture Exchange Association and China Yunnan TV.
“We [Myanmar artists] are invited to attend the art festival. Two people representing Myanmar can join the Art Week, and a movie will be screened with subtitles in English,” said information officer Aye Kyu Lay of Myanmar Motion Picture Enterprise.
The Yunnan Literature and Art Federation will pay the representative’s hotel and transportation costs during their stay in the city while the Myanmar government will cover the round trip from Myanmar to Yunnan.
Historic bridge ‘rotting away’
The historic U Bein Bridge near Mandalay is rotting and could pose a danger to visitors and commuters, according to the locals.
Locals say age and weather have weakened the structure of the 160-year-old teak bridge, and that its deteriorating floor planks and columns can be seen when the water level of the Taungtaman Lake drops.
“Both local and foreign visitors come to U Bein Bridge every day. The deteriorating conditions of the columns are very obvious when the water level of the lake drops. Some foreign tourists even took photos of those rotting columns,” said a resident of Taungtaman Lake Village.
U Bein Bridge is a 1.2-kilometre-long footbridge and was named after its donor, U Bein, who was a clerk working for the mayor of Amarapura. It was built in 1849 using teak columns salvaged from old palaces in Innwa and Sagaing.
US, EU plan to make finished-wood items
The US and members of the European Union (EU) plan to invest in manufacturing finished wood products in Myanmar, the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry said.
“The ministry is exporting forest products as value-added goods. It is important to be able to export finished products because we will stop log exports. Now, the EU countries and the US will have to invest in local factories producing finished wood products,” an official from the ministry said.
Myanmar will stop exporting logs in 2014. Therefore, Asian companies are discussing the construction of factories that can produce wood and wood products as value-added items.
