India contributes $1 mn to Myanmar

Sittwe (Myanmar), Sep 4 (ANS) India Wednesday contributed $1 million to build 10 schools in Myanmar's Rakhine state where ethnic Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims have clashed.

Indian ambassador Gautam Mukhopadhaya symbolically handed over a cheque at a function in Sittwe in the presence of Minister Maj. Gen. Maung Maung Ohn and Rakhine government officials, an official statement said.

"The announcement is a follow-up to a commitment made by External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid in December last year as India's contribution towards promotion of religious tolerance, communal harmony, peace and reconciliation between the two communities," the statement said.

"India hopes this modest effort will advance government and international efforts to restore communal harmony and promote education among both communities in Rakhine State," it said.