Reading Promotion Festival: Library development and reading promotion festival held

Under the guidance of the Kayah State Government, the Information and Public Relations Department and the Department of Basic Education jointly organized a Library Development and Reading Promotion Festival Tuesday morning at No. 2 Basic Education High School in Loikaw. The event was officially opened by Kayah State Chief Minister U Antg Maw, who inaugurated the festival by cutting the ceremonial ribbon. At the opening ceremony, the Chief Minister, the Speaker of the Kayah State Hluttaw, and the Minister for Social Affairs jointly cut the ribbon to open the festival entrance. They then watched performances by the school drum and bugle group and pom pom dance troupe and presented cash awards to the performers. The Chief Minister and officials subsequently toured the festival venue, observing and encouraging participants in various intellectual competitions held as part of the Reading Promotion Festival, including storytelling, poetry recitation, impromptu speech, and essay-writing contests. They also viewed physical fitness competitions, an exhibition of colorful photographs depicting the beauty of Myanmar, and book displays. During the second session of the ceremony, the Chief Minister delivered the opening address and presented cash awards in support of the Reading Promotion Festival, donated books for the school library, and awarded a certificate of honor and a cash prize to author Mahuya (Loikaw) for delivering a literary talk. He also presented a certificate of honor and a cash award to the first-prize winner of the senior-level impromptu speech contest. The Chief Minister's wife, the Speaker of State Hluttaw, the Chief Justice of State High Court, and members of the State Government also presented certificates of honor and cash awards to prize winners and performing groups. The Library Development and Reading Promotion Festival was held from 6 to 7 July and also featured literary talks and youth discussion forums, it’s reported.