Khit (NP News) – Feb 25

Union Minister of the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism Htay Aung met with a delegation led by Jose Maunel Vilanova Aleman, president of the #Lumbani_Garden_Foundation Spain, regarding the Maha Karuna project to be implemented in Spain in recent days.

The project’s aim is to promote Buddhism-based Asia-European tourism industry, according to the director of the International Buddhist Education Center (IBEC) and Stockholm World Peace Prize laureate Buddhist monk Dr. Sayadaw Ashin #Sobhita.

The meeting was held on February 21 in Naypyidaw.

During the meeting, the president of Lumbini Garden Foundation, explained the plan to build the religious building and replica stupas similar to the world's largest Buddha statues in Buddhist countries from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan and Thailand. The Spanish government has already given permission to develop the project in 110 hectares areas in the city of Caceres Holy Land in Spain.

In the project, Sayadaw Ashin Sobhita was appointed as the director to build the replica of Shwedagon Pagoda which is one of the famous pagodas in Myanmar; also involved in the world medieval wonder list.

This project has been planned since 2018, and the construction project period is estimated to be 15 years and the religious buildings from countries that practice Theravada Buddhism, such as Thailand, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka, will be prioritized in the construction, according to Sayadaw Ashin Sobhita.

By building replicas of pagodas of Myanmar in Spain will be uplifting Myanmar’s culture and traditions, also there will be chance to promote Myanmar’s tourism industry.

The Union Minister also discussed that he appreciates and welcomes the project as it provides opportunities to cooperate for the development of the pilgrimage of Myanmar-Nepal and Spain. The Ministry will conduct further cooperation for promoting Buddhism, boosting tourism and strengthening the friendship.