The 8th State Central Working Committee of the Sangha con­tinued for the third-day session of the 6th meeting at Maha Pasa­na Cave in Mayangon Township yesterday.

Chairman of the State Cen­tral Working Committee of the Sangha Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Saddhamma Jotikadhaja Dr Bhaddanta Candima Bhivam­sa presented State Vinayadhara certificates to 30 members of the Separate State Vinaya Body and State Sangha Vinicchaya Body as well as Theravada Budhdist Missionary Ovadacariya Com­mittee and Dhammacariya, Pali Pahtamabyan and Nikaya Edu­cation Central Committee.

A total of 15 Ovadacariya Sayadaws and representatives from all Buddhist Gana signed the approvals for substitute election, decisions, approvals and records adopted at the meeting.

Members of the Sangha were offered day meals by Sen­ior General (Retd) Than Shwe, wife Daw Kyaing Kyaing and family, Vice-Senior General (Retd) Maung Aye, wife Daw Mya Mya San and family, Agga Maha Thray Sithu Agga Maha Thiri Thudhamma U Thein Sein, President (Retd), wife Daw Khin Khin Win and family, Maha Thray Sithu (General Soe Win) (Retd), wife Daw Than Than Nwe and family, and retired senior mili­tary officers and their families.

Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Tin Oo Lwin paid homage to Chairman Sayadaw Dr Bhaddanta Candi­ma Bhivamsa and Secretary Sayadaw Bhaddanta Vasettha Bhivamsa, offered alms and sup­plicated religious affairs.

In the afternoon, the Union minister inspected running of Kaba Aye Press of the Religious Affairs Department and 39 items of religious books to be slated to print. He also looked into system­atic spending of the fund of Sa­cred Tooth Relic Pagoda in Ma­yangon Township and inspected Kyaukpadaung Dhammayon in the precinct of the pagoda. — MNA/TTA