HLUTTAW SESSIONS:- PYIDAUNGSU HLUTTAW: Union Finance Minister explains salary increase for government employees at Pyidaungsu Hluttaw: "Nay Pyi Taw, 26 March — Finance Union Minister U Win Shein explained the section of expenditure reduction included in the union budgets bill at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw here on Thursday. According to the union minister, over K 8 billion was reduced from the budgets of the offices of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw, the constitutional tribunal and 14 ministries. In connection with increased salaries for government employees, he said the new salaries range from K 120,000 in minimum to K 500,000 in maximum. The gap between the lowest and the highest salaries is 4.2 times, with the union minister saying that separate announcements will be made on new rates of salaries for pensioners and other fringe benefits for government staff assigned in remote areas. Dr Kan Zaw, Union Minister for National Planning and Economic Development, briefed the parliament on the first five-year national development plan from 2011-2012 to 2015- 2016, which is part of the 20-year all-round national development project from 2011-2012 to 2030-2031. The first five-year plan includes rural development and poverty reduction, anti- corruption, reinforcement of rule of law, reconstruction of the country?s economic institutions, state-owned investments, citizen investments, foreign investments and control of inflation."...PYITHU HLUTTAW: Health Department upgrades YGH with technical assistance of local and foreign organizations: "Nay Pyi Taw, 26 March — With regard to the question on arrangements for opening Sports University raised by U Thang Lein of Mindat Constituency, Deputy Minister for Sports U Thaung Htaik replied that the university will be opened in 2016-17 fiscal year depending on budget in 2015-16 FY at the 34th day session of Pyithu Hluttaw Thursday. U Min Swe of DaikU Constituency asked about upgrading of Yangon General Hospital. Deputy Minister for Health Dr Win Myint explained that the Yangon General Hospital upgrading and renovation committee was formed with 12 members to upgrade the facility with technical assistance of former minister of Department of Health Mr. Lord Darzi of England, trustee Dr Michael Marett-Crosby of Rangoon General Hospital Reinvigoration Fund of England, Robin Cross, Ian Goodfellow, and Louise Hansen Yangon Heritage Trust of the UK, Myanmar Engineering Society, Myanmar Integrated Engineer Union Finance Minister explains salary increase for government employees at Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Nay Pyi Taw, 26 March — Finance Union Minister U Win Shein explained the section of expenditure reduction included in the union budgets bill at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw here on Thursday. According to the union minister, over K 8 billion was reduced from the budgets of the offices of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw, the constitutional tribunal and 14 ministries. In connection with increased salaries for government employees, he said the new salaries range from K 120,000 in minimum to K 500,000 in maximum. The gap between the lowest and the highest salaries is 4.2 times, with the union minister saying that separate announcements will be made on new rates of salaries for pensioners and other fringe benefits for government staff assigned in remote areas. Dr Kan Zaw, Union Minister for National Planning and Economic Development, briefed the parliament on the first five-year national development plan from 2011-2012 to 2015- 2016, which is part of the 20-year all-round national development project from 2011-2012 to 2030-2031. The first five-year plan includes rural development and poverty reduction, anti- corruption, reinforcement of rule of law, reconstruction of the country?s economic institutions, state-owned investments, citizen investments, foreign investments and control of inflation.—MNA Group, Quality Control and Nikki Group..."...AMYOTHA HLUTTAW: Amyotha Hluttaw approves bill amending national education law: "Nay Pyi Taw, 26 March — Chairman of Amyotha Hluttaw Bill Committee U Khin Maung Yi read out the findings and remarks of the committee over the bill amending national education law at the 35th day session of Amyotha Hluttaw on Thursday. The speaker of the Amyotha Hluttaw sought paragraph by paragraph approval for the bill from the Hluttaw. Deputy Minister for Education Dr Zaw Min Aung also sought the approval for the bill and the session approved it."..... OTHER DOMESTIC NEWS: Business confidence in Myanmar still robust: ADB...Art exhibition looks at Yangon?s heritage...Vice President Dr Sai Mauk Kham honours nationwide immunization campaign...Constitutional Review Committee discusses amendments to Schedules 1 and 2 of 2008 Charter...Government announces pay raises for civil workers...More cars, illegal parking worsen Mandalay?s traffic woes...Five-member committee endorses issuance of citizenship scrutiny cards...Palethwe paddy produces 190 baskets per acre in Kawa Tsp...BG and Woodside to invest US$ 1 bn in Myanmar?s energy sector...MNA?s Mandalay branch changes flight schedules as of 1 April...Danger of narcotic drugs disseminated to local residents...Self-reliant electricity benefits 300 houses...Ships stranded upstream of Myinmu due to low water level...Police target gamblers in crackdown...Golfers to join Myanmar Golf Tours in 2015..... EXTERNAL RELATIONS: President U Thein Sein meets Stanford professor and master?s students...Business confidence in Myanmar still robust: ADB...Union SWRR Minister signs book of condolences for demise of Singapore?s former PM Mr. Lee Kuan Yew...ASEAN virtual learning resources centre initially launched in Ngwehsaung...BG and Woodside to invest US$ 1 bn in Myanmar?s energy sector..... "PERSPECTIVES": "Education the most worthwhile investment" by Myint Win Thein..... ARTICLE: "The Conquering Spirit" by Kyi Mun