Myanmar, 4 Jan 2009. On the auspicious occasion of Myanmar Independent Day on 4th of Jan, the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar has announced the notification No. 1/2009 conferring religious titles on the Most Venerable Sayadaws, Ganthadhura Pariyatti Lecturer Sayadaws, Vipassanadhura Patipatti Kammathana Instructor Sayadaws, Roving Dhamma Preachers, national and foreign missionary figures and outstanding donors of the Four Essentials to the Buddha Sasana. In the awarded list there are 3 ATBU personalities:

The 2nd Bi-annual conference of the Association of Theravada Buddhist Universities is going to be held from Wednesday 4  to Sunday 8 of March 2009 at Sitagu International Buddhist Academy in Sagaing. The conference  is taking place immediately after the opening of the new convocation hall, modelled on the famous Sanchi Chaitiya, at SIBA.
 

Dear ATBU Member-Universities and Colleges,

The ATBU will be two years in coming March, so another bi-annual conference is due. This Second Bi-Annual Conference of the ATBU is going to be held in Sitagu International Buddhist Academy, Sagaing, Myanmar between 6 to 9th, March 2009 (not in December as intended earlier).

We have learned with Dhamma-samvega that the beloved mother of Venerable Dr. Khammai Dhammasami has passed away peacefully a few days ago. Venerable Dr. Khammai Dhammasami is the General-secretary of ATBU, IABU and Abbot of Oxford Buddha Vihara in UK. He has been flying in and out of Myanmar often in recent months in order to take care of his mother who has been sick for a while. Finally, she gave up keeping her Khandhas remained intact and passed away peacefully. Certainly, this is a great loss for Ven. Dr. Dhammasami and his family members.

The ATBU Executive Council is meeting on 15th January 2008 at the ATBU Secretariat, Mahamakut Buddhist University, Bangkok, for the second time since its inception to discuss the progress of the association. Seven of the nine Council members including the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Executive Secretary and Hon. Treasurer, are attending this meeting. The Council is expected to agree on an exchange programme for 2008 and discuss about the coming General Meeting of all members which is taking place in Sagaing, Maynmar there there is a Member-University, Sitagu.