Coordination meeting: Restoration of religious and heritage structures discussed

Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture U Tin Oo Lwin attended a coordination meeting with a technical expert team comprising professionals from various relevant fields, in the evening on May 19. The meeting, held at the Lokanat Hall of the Ministry, focused on the restoration and conservation of religious and heritage structures that were damaged during the Mandalay earthquake that struck on March 28, 2025.

In his opening remarks, the Union Minister stated that the earthquake caused widespread damage to religious buildings and ancient heritage structures in Mandalay Region and Sagaing Region. Additionally, Nay Pyi Taw Council Territory, Bago Region, and Shan State also experienced significant structural damages due to the quake.

As the leading committee, it will ensure that the restoration and conservation efforts for the earthquake-damaged religious and heritage buildings will be carried out in accordance with set standards and guidelines. Policies will be established to enable actions that align with laws, by-laws, and standard procedures. Following this, the Union Minister noted that most members of the newly formed technical expert group also had previous experience participating in the restoration and conservation of pagodas and stupas in Bagan that were damaged in the 2016 earthquake.

Many of them were involved in drafting the comprehensive master plan for Shwezigon Pagoda and other heritage preservation projects in the Bagan Cultural Heritage Zone. Given their experience, he expressed confidence that these professionals will be able to effectively contribute to the restoration and reconstruction of both religious and heritage structures affected by the Mandalay earthquake.

He emphasized that the reconstruction process should incorporate considerations for potential future natural disasters and adopt long-term, sustainable solutions. He concluded by stating that expert recommendations should be implemented in the form of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to ensure the durability and protection of cultural heritage sites.