Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by his entourage, the chief minister of Shan State, the commander of Eastern Command and officials, yesterday afternoon inspected the loss and damage in Aungban caused by the Mandalay earthquake and beautification process of Kalaw, leaving necessary instructions.

In Aungban Township, the vegetable online trade has paused temporarily due to the highway being destroyed by the quake, however, the local offline market has run as usual.
“Aungban quite suffered during the quake. The online trade has paused though, the local offline trade including the Aungban market has continued operating regularly because people need basic foods daily,” said Ma Nyo Lae Yi, vegetables and fruits trader in Aungban Township.

Currently, apart from Russia the Mir card is accepted in 13 countries. Russia’s Mir card is being accepted in more countries worldwide even despite sanctions, head of the Bank of Russia Elvira Nabiullina said at the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament.

"Despite the sanctions, we are gradually expanding the acceptance of Mir cards in friendly countries our tourists go to," she said.

The Indian leader is the first foreign dignitary to visit the island nation since the leftist Dissanayake swept elections last year. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Sri Lanka to strengthen historical defence and energy ties as Colombo balances ties with its powerful neighbour and biggest lender, China. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake rolled out the red carpet for Modi and welcomed him with a 19-gun salute in the capital’s Independence Square on Saturday.

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, accompanied by his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla, the SAC Joint Secretary and his wife, council members, Union ministers, the Chief Minister of Mandalay Region, and senior Tatmadaw officers from the Office of the Commander-in-Chief, yesterday afternoon met rescue teams from India, China, Russia and Belarus which are conducting rescue and relief operations in Mandalay and spoke words of appreciation.

According to the data collected by the Technical Support Team Myanmar, more than 50 infrastructures including pagodas, religious buildings, universities, churches, mosques, and other buildings in Mandalay were damaged by the earthquake.

Technical Support Team Myanmar is a non-profit organization dedicated to collecting records of ancient heritage buildings damaged by the earthquake. The team conducted the inventory with the help of volunteers and posted the information obtained as of April 2 on social media.

Colombo: The Sri Lankan navy has seized over 700 kilograms of heroin and crystal methamphetamine, marking the largest narcotics bust in the history of the country's security forces, said the navy on Saturday. Navy Media Director Buddhika Sampath told media that the estimated street value of the seized drugs exceeds 10 billion Sri Lankan rupees (approximately 34 million U.S. dollars).

ASEAN countries, especially Malaysia, hope that the military ruling Myanmar will extend the ceasefire beyond the previously announced period so that relief and recovery efforts can continue after the earthquake. Following the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, the junta has announced a three-week ceasefire until April 22. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia and ASEAN welcome the announcement of the ceasefire.

The earthquake in the Sagaing Hills damaged some of the water pipes at the Sitagu, causing water shortages for monasteries and nunneries. Efforts are underway to restore water supply as soon as possible.
On the morning of April 3, the 89-year-old chief abbot of the Sitagu Monastery, Dr. Ashin Nyanissara, visited the Sayambu Pagoda on Sagaing Hill, Sun U Ponnyashin Pagoda, the Htuparyon Pagoda, the Sinmyarshin Pagoda, the Mingalar Maha Pagoda, and the See Kon Gyi Pagoda in Sagaing City, which were damaged by the earthquake.

Brussels (TDI): The European Union has announced €2.5 Million in humanitarian aid to Myanmar for the people affected by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit the country on Friday.

According to Hadja Lahbib, the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, “EU is already providing €2.5mil in emergency aid for people affected by this morning’s earthquake in Myanmar. This will help address the immediate needs of the most vulnerable.”