President and First Lady attend Thai King’s royal cremation ceremony

October 26, 2017

U Htin Kyaw, the President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, and First Lady attended the cremation ceremony of Thailand’s former king Bhumibol Adulyadej at Sanam Luang public square in Bangkok yesterday evening.

Kings and queens, presidents and leaders of government and special representatives from ASEAN and world nations attended the ceremony.

A delegation led by the President was welcomed by Thailand’s government officials at the ceremony upon their arrival at Sanam Luang at 4:30pm., shortly before the ceremony began at 5pm.

During the ceremony, the President and First Lady scattered sandalwood flowers at the royal cremation place of the former Thai King and visited the royal receptionist hall and greeted the new king of Thailand King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his family.

After the ceremony, the President and First Lady returned to the Okura Prestige Hotel, where they are staying during their official visit to Thailand.

Across Bangkok, thousands of Thais dressed in black prostrated themselves as the funeral urn for their revered former king who became the world’s longest-reigning monarch was carried by chariot to his cremation pyre.

Strict regulations handed out to reporters covering the event included a ban on long hair, earrings and moustaches for male journalists. “Unnatural hair colouring is not allowed,” they said.

The symbolic service ends the official mourning period, a year in which government officials and many Thais have only worn black.

Myanmar News Agency

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar