On 15 November 2015, H.E. Mr. Chaisiri Anaman, Advisor to Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand presided over the Offering Ceremony of the Royal Kathin Robe, graciously bestowed by His Majesty the King through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the congregation of monks at Wat Ananda Metyarama, Singapore.

H.E. Mr. Bansarn Bunnag, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Thailand to the Republic of Singapore, Ms. Linna Tangthasiri, Deputy Director-General of Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented at the Ceremony. The event was also graciously attended by H.E. Ms. Indranee Rajah, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Law, and H.E. Mr. Albert Chu, the Second Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore. This year’s event also attended by more than 200 participants from Thai community in Singapore and Singapore friends.

The offerings of the Royal Kathin Robes in foreign countries was initiated in 1995 under the cultural diplomacy programmes and have been successfully extended to many countries such as Laos, Myanmar China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, India, Nepal, Malaysia, Indonesia and Bangladesh. As this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Thailand and Singapore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expands this project to include Singapore at the latest city to receive the Royal Kathin Robes.

The Royal Kathin Robe Offering Ceremony at Wat Ananda Metyarama served the aim of promoting constructive people-to-people interactions between Thais and Singaporeans through Buddhism. The donation from His Majesty the King and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as Thai and Singaporean community amounted to approximately 350,440 Baht.