On 31 October 2015, H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs, presided over the Offering Ceremony of His Majesty the King’s Royal Kathin Robe to the congregation of monks at Naga Hlainggu Kalaywa Tawya Monastery, Yangon, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

Also present at the ceremony were His Excellency U Soe Win, Minister for Religious Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, U Nyunt Swe, Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and President of the Myanmar – Thai Friendship Association, H.E. Mr. Pisanu Suvanajata, Ambassador of Thailand to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Mr. Sek Wannamethee, Director - General of the Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, along with Friends of Thailand, local media and over 400 Thai and Myanmar Buddhists.

On this occasion, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand together with the Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar offered alms to groups of monks and novices residing at the temple. The Minister of Foreign Affairs also visited the public benefit services, including mobile health check-up and blood donation unit, haircut service by Tony Tun Tun Hair Salon and almshouse which were co-organized by the Royal Thai Embassy in Yangon and both Thai and Myanmar business sectors. A number of local residents enjoyed the services.

In his speech, His Excellency U Soe Win, Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, expressed gratitude for the benevolence of His Majesty the King as the upholder of religions. Furthermore, His Excellency highlighted the importance of the Offering of the Royal Kathin Robe Ceremony in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand for many consecutive years, as a symbol of cordial ties between Thailand and Myanmar, particularly in the field of religious promotion that has bound the two countries together.

Since 1995, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has started to send high-level delegation to offer the Royal Kathin Robes, graciously bestowed by His Majesty the King, to Buddhist temples in Myanmar and the sacred ritual has been organized almost every year ever since. This year’s ceremony at Naga Hlainggu Kalaywa Tawya Monastery was a success. It did not only pave the way for fostering and strengthening relations, especially people-to-people contacts between Thailand and Myanmar who share Buddhist culture, but brought about co-operation in other areas to flourish as well. In this connection, the donation to the Monastery from His Majesty the King, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as Thai and Myanmar Buddhists totaled 2,003,364 Baht.