A ceremony to honour 112 members of the Sangha who passed the 76th Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida Selection Ex­amination organized by the Religious Affairs Department of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture took place in conjunction with the certifi­cate offering ceremony at Maha Pasana Cave on Thiri Mingala Kaba Aye Hill in Yangon yes­terday.

SSMNC Chairman Sayad­aw Thanlyin Minkyaung Bud­dhism Learning Centre Presid­ing Patron Agga Maha Pandita Agga Maha Saddhamma Joti­kadhaja Dr Bhaddanta Candi­ma Bhivamsa gave Saraniya Ovada Katha.

Union Minister for Reli­gious Affairs and Culture U Tin Oo Lwin supplicated religious affairs.

Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Dep­uty Prime Minister Vice-Sen­ior General Soe Win offered religious title and certificate to Ashin Pannasirilankara from Tipitaka Nikaya Mon­astery in Dagon Township of Yangon Region, who secured Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida title for passing the examina­tion and Ashin Janinda from Mingun Tipitaka Nikaya Monas­tery of Moemeik Hill in Sagaing of Sagaing Region for passing Mula Abhidhammika subject respectively.

SAC member Dr Ba Shwe, Union ministers U Maung Maung Ohn, U Tin Oo Lwin and Dr Thet Khaing Win, Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein, senior mil­itary officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, the commander of Yangon Command and officials presented religious titles and certificates to monks who passed relevant subjects in the examination.

The Vice-Senior General and wife, SAC member Dr Ba Shwe, Union ministers and party donat­ed offerings to monks who passed the Examination.

The Examination turned out one Tipitakadhara Tipi­takakovida monk, five Mula Ab­hidhammika monks, three Digha Nikayakovida monks, nine Digha Bhanaka monks, five Vinayak­ovida monks, 31 Vinayadhara monks, seven Ubhato Vibhang­akovida monks and 51 Ubhato Vibhangadhara monks, totalling 112.

Up to the 76th examination, 16 Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovi­da monks have emerged during the 76 years. The government offers Tipitakadhara Dham­mabhandagarika title to those Sayadaw who have secured Tip­itakadhara Tipitakakovida title 15 years. So far, 14 members of the Sangha have been offered the Tipitakadhara Dhammab­handagarika title. As five Tip­itakadhara Sayadaws have emerged, more Tipitakadhara Tipitakakovida title recipient Sayadaws will come out in the future. — MNA/TTA