75th anniversary of U Ottama Day observed in Yangon and Rakhine

A diamond jubilee ceremony to observe the 75th anniversary of late Sayardaw  U Ottama was held yesterday in a grand scale in Yangon and Rakhine State.

In Yangon, the event was hosted at Myanmar Convention Centre (MCC), attended by Zaw Aye Maung, the minister of Rakhine ethnic affairs, Aye Thar Aung of Rakhine Development Party, foreign embassies’ representatives, Buddhist monks and ethnic Rakhine nationals.
Attendees also voted to change the name of Kandawmingalar Park back to U Ottama Park. The park on U Wizara Road, the southern part of Shwedagon Pagoda, was renamed by the military regime.

Events were also held in all parts of Rakhine State by Rakhine State Government on the same day. A government wreath was laid in the U Ottama Park, accompanied by a painting contest.

Sayardaw U Ottama, an ethnic Rakhine, died in prison in 1939. He was locked up for fighting the British colonialism. He was the first person in the era to be imprisoned for making a political speech. He spent more time in prison than outside. The monk became a guiding light of ethnic Rakhine.

“U Ottama was an esteemed monk,” said by Zaw Aye Maung, the chief minister of Rakhine State.

Ref: http://www.elevenmyanmar.com/