YANGON, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- A total of 31 literatus have won manuscript awards in Myanmar extended by the Sarpay Beikman (Literature House) for 2007, the state-run newspaper New Light of Myanmar reported Saturday, quoting an announcement of the Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards Scrutinizing Committee.
The Sarpay Beikman Manuscript Awards are next to the state's National Literary Awards (NLA).
The 31 literatus respectively won the awards in genres of novel, collected short stories, collected poems, belles-letters, Myanmar culture and fine arts literature, child literature, youth literature, translation, general knowledge (arts), general knowledge (science and applied science) and drama.
Among the 12 genres, there was no winners in the manuscript award in political literary genre, the report said.
The Sarpay Beikman was founded as the "Burma (now Myanmar) Translation Society" in 1947 and has published numerous magazines, lexicons, illustrated journals and volumes of Myanmar encyclopedia.
According to an earlier official report, a total of 12 other literatus have also won the state's NLAs for 2007.
Besides writer Hsinbyugyun Aung Thein (alias) U Kyi Aye, who was chosen as the winner of Life-time Achievement Literary Award, 11 others respectively won the NLAs for the year in these same genres, the NLA Scrutinizing Committee said.
The prize presentation ceremony for the two kinds of awards is scheduled for Dec. 28 in Nay Pyi Taw, according to the committees under the Ministry of Information.
Last year, 11 NLAs for 2006 were presented together with some Sarpay Beikman (literature house) Manuscript Awards.
To encourage preservation and promotion of literary and cultural heritage, the government presents the NLAs to successful writers annually, while the Sarpay Beikman extends its manuscript awards to literary talents every year.
Literatus in Myanmar have been urged to serve the national interest and educate people with literature as well as to lead people applying modern arts, new thoughts, theories and ideas.
