Khit/Pearl (NSS) - Dec 13

The State Administration Council (SAC) confirmed and explained that there was no such incident that dollars from the Shwedagon Pagoda's donations and entry fees were exchanged to Myanmar Kyats.

The information team of the SAC released the statement on December 11.

Some news outlets spread disinformation by stating that the entry fees and donations which in total are valued at over 20 million USD of Shwedagon Pagoda and the entry fees and donations of Botataung Pagoda were exchanged to Myanmar Kyat at the rate of 2,100 kyats per dollar.

Regarding the fake news, the SAC alerted that some news outlets are making efforts to spread fake news about Buddhist pagodas and temples that represent the Myanmar religion, according to an official from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture.

“Those are fake news. There’s no exchanging the currency which are collected from donations,” a source close to the Shwedagon Pagoda board of trustee told The Statesman.

Plans are underway to announce the details of expenses and donations to the Shwedagon Pagoda on the official website, he added.

“I’m sure that the detailed lists of expenses and donations of Shwedagon pagoda will be posted on the website. Additionally, the histories of pagodas and temples across the country including Shwedagon pagoda will also be posted through official websites in detail,” a reliable source close to the Pagoda’s Trustee said.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture is arranging to publish the histories of the pagodas and temples all over the country including Shwedagon pagoda on the relevant official websites.

Previously, the entry fees of Shwedagon pagoda were set at the rate of 10,000 kyats for a foreigner but since October 1st, the fees have been changed to 20,000 kyats for a foreigner and 10,000 kyats for a diplomat.