HLUTTAW SESSIONS:- PYITHU HLUTTAW: Pyithu Hluttaw urged to create global market for local rubber: "Nay Pyi Taw, 19 March — U Saw Ba Thein of the Thaton constituency asked the Pyithu Hluttaw on Thursday about the prospect of creating a global market for local rubber and the disbursement of loans. Turning rubber into finished products is the first priority for the country to enter the international market, responded U Ohn Than, Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation, adding that his ministry is working in tandem with companies from Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore in a bid to build more factories to manufacture finished products as well as enabling growers to earn more. Myanma Agricultural Development Bank has not made any plan to disburse loans to rubber growers, according to the deputy minister. U Ye Htun of the Sibaw constituency asked the lower house the number of total miles of roads across the country, their total cost and the possibility of contracting private companies. Deputy Minister for Construction U Soe Tint responded that his ministry has constructed over 24,900 miles of roads nationwide and that their annual maintenance requires over K390 billion. So far 27 private companies owned by Myanmar nationals have been permitted to construct 3,490 miles of roads under the BOT (build, operate and transfer) system, with new private companies invited, the deputy minister said. MPs also discussed the marriage bill on Myanmar Buddhist women and the population control healthcare bill."...AMYOTHA HLUTTAW: Suspension bridge construction resumes in Kayin State: Amyotha Hluttaw: "Nay Pyi Taw, 19 March — The Amyotha Hluttaw on Thursday was urged to build a suspension bridge in the township of Thantaungyi, Kayin State, with Deputy Minister U Kyaw Kyaw Win responding that soil tests are under way ahead of its construction. The suspension bridge will have two lanes, he said. An MP proposed compensation for farmlands destroyed by seawater in some parts of Rakhine State, with the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation saying farmland management committees will examine the damage in the affected areas and report to the central government for recompense, pledging technical assistance. The parliament has agreed to discuss two proposals concerning its election amendment bill and a bill calling for the central government to form a commission to investigate the recent shipwreck in Myepon, a township in Rakhine State, and compensate the victims for their losses."..... OTHER DOMESTIC NEWS: Agreement reached on most differences over NCA...UEC issues rules for election monitoring teams...Communications Ministry seeks to allay mobile phone health fears...Army captures strategic hill in Laukkai area...UEC issues codes of practice for election observers...Medical team gives free treatment, health talks to villagers...Thayet-Kanma-Pyay route boosts local commerce...Police seize stimulant tablets in Mandalay...Mya Ceti stone inscriptions, Popa Lady , 37 Nat spirits attract tourists...Women of MMCWA and MWAO combat human trafficking...Clean water key to closing rural development gap...Library multiplier training course opened..... EXTERNAL RELATIONS: President U Thein Sein receives Vietnamese guests...Left or right? India, Myanmar, Thailand must pick side before highway can proceed...Solar Impulse-2 arrives in Mandalay...U Khin Aung Myint receives New Zealand Professor...Senior General Min Aung Hlaing receives Israeli Ambassador...Myanmar, Japan sign funding agreement for port, water projects...Indian navy vessel makes call at Thilawa port...Mya Ceti stone inscriptions, Popa Lady , 37 Nat spirits attract tourists..... "PERSPECTIVES": "Time to leave old, bad habits" by Myint Win Thein..... ARTICLES: "Nanyang Technological University of Singapore: Vital aspect of Technology in Education" by Sayar Mya..."We are too nice to one another" by U Hla Maung