The Ministry of Information organized a ceremony to present the National Lifetime Award for Literary Achievement and the National Literary Awards for 2019 at the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Yangon yesterday.
President U Win Myint delivered a video speech to the ceremony which was held under the COVID-19 healthcare guidelines.

The event was attended by Union Minister for Information Dr Pe Myint, Yangon Region Government’s Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, Yangon Region Hluttaw Speaker U Tin Maung Tun, members of Yangon regional government, Hluttaw representatives, departmental heads, winners of National Lifetime Award for Literary Achievement, members of award selection committee, award winners, literary scholars and the invited guests.

Before the award presenting ceremony, the Union Minister and party viewed the display of documentary photos of the 2019 literary award winners and their books published from 2001 to 2019. The video speech of President U Win Myint was screened at the ceremony.

Union Minister Dr Pe Myint delivered a speech at the ceremony, saying that Myanmar has a long tradition of honouring great literary figures and a decision was made in 1944 (ME1306) to honour the literary figures with the annual celebrations. The first Waxing of Nadaw was designated as the Sarsodaw Day of the country, with the celebrations of respect-paying to the veteran writers, book exhibition, literary contests, literary talks and publishing books and publications.

The National Literary Award was created in 1948, and it is the most prestigious literary award in the country. Cash prize for this award at the beginning was K1,000 and has been gradually increased to K2.5 million to date.

The National Lifetime Award for Literary Achievement was introduced in 2001 to honour great literary figures for their deep devotion to this profession. This award has been presented to a total of 31 veteran literary figures until this year, and the cash prize of this award has been K5 million this year.

The National Lifetime Award for Literary Achievement for 2019 went to U Earnt Maung (pseudonym Earnt Maung) and U Nyunt Maung (pseudonym Maung Maung Nyunt-Mandalay University) for the Lifetime Award for Literary Achievement, while the other 10 writers achieved the National Literary Award for 10 genres of literary. Union Minister Dr Pe Myint then presented the National Lifetime Award for Literary Achievement to the two veteran writers.

Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein, Yangon Region Hluttaw Speaker U Tin Maung Tun, and Rakhine Ethnic Affairs Minister of Yangon Region government U Zaw Aye Maung presented the National Literary Award to the writers.

U Nyunt Maung (pseudonym Maung Maung Nyunt-Mandalay University), the winner of National Lifetime Award for Literary Achievement, and Sayamagyi Natmauk Ani Cho who won the National Literary Award expressed thanks for the awards.

After the ceremony, the Union Minister and party posted for a documentary photo with the literary award winners.

The Ministry of Information formed the National Literary Award Selection Committee comprised with 54 experienced personnel from literary works and printing and publishing sector for presenting the awards.

—MNA

(Translated by Aung Khin)

PHOTO:MNA

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