The most Senior Myanmar Monk in the UK, Agga Maha Kamatthana Cariya, Sayadaw Gyi U Kit Sar Ya Na (Age 69, Vassa 49) had recently applied for leave to remain in the UK (i.e. extending the UK Visa). An official at the UK Border Agency had considered his application on behalf of the Secretary of State. His application as a Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) has been refused because the sponsoring organisation, the Buddhist Aid Trust or the London Mogok Vipassana Centre is not a Licensed Sponsor, according to the New Immigration Rules. As you are aware, the Buddhist Aid Trust, a UK-Charity-Commission-registered Charity, had successfully sponsored Sayadaw Gyi in 2005-2006 and seven other Senior Mogok Kamatthana Cariya Sayadaws since August 2004. Due to unwavering and generous support from the followers of the Late Mogok Sayadaw Gyi U Vimala, especially the local and international Myanmar Community, the London Mogok Vipassana Centre (Yeiktha) has been continuing its Vipassana Mission in its 5th year of existence. Sayadaw Gyi U Kit Sar Ya Na does not wish to stay in the UK indefinitely. His main goal to stay another year or two in the UK, is to play the active Sangha Role towards the establishment of the Permanent Meditation Centre in the UK. Sayadaw Gyi has been delivering weekly Saturday Dhamma Talks from the Centre locally as well as internationally via VZO Live Conference Talk (UN = MogokTalk). The Video Talks are also published at the Mogok website (www.mogok.co.uk) and MyanmarNet site (www.myanmarnet.co.uk), regularly watched by the followers in hundreds every week. Thanks to the visiting Venerable Monks and the generous supporters, the financial strength of the Centre has also improved over the last five years. An application for the Sponsor Licence has been submitted in the first week of July 2009 and the decision is still pending, taking longer than the average 'Four Weeks' stated by the UK Border Agency. In a Court Hearing on 25th August 2009, the presiding Judge had sympathetically adjourned the decision until late November after our Barrister successfully pleaded and presented overwhelming evidence of support from 177 well wisers who had kindly signed this online Petition in the first 3 days. Those who haven't shown their support are requested to do so to help Sayadw Gyi in his attempt to propagate Vipassana Meditation Worldwide. Your name and email addresses are required. But the latter won't be shown to the public or on the web pages. With Many Thanks, Buddhist Aid Trust - London Mogok Vipassana Centre

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