Daw Sandar Khin, chairwoman of the Myanmar Cultural Heritage Preservation Committee, announced that over 2,200 cultural heritage items have been identified at the national level for potential UNESCO submission. Under existing international guidelines, only one item per year can be formally submitted as an intangible cultural heritage, necessitating a highly selective priority-based approach for the 2026 cycle and beyond.
Following the successful inscription of the Thingyan Festival, the committee is now focusing its efforts on the Thanakha culture and the traditional consumption of pickled tea (laphet). These elements are considered central to the Myanmar identity and represent a unique blend of botanical science and social custom. The strategic prioritization aims to elevate the global profile of Myanmar's living heritage while fostering sustainable tourism and cultural pride across the region.