On 15 November 2026, Mr. Kiattikhun Chartprasert, President of the Thai-Lao Association for Friendship, presided over the presentation ceremony of the Royal Kathina Robes, graciously bestowed by His Majesty the King, at Wat Silavanaram in Bolikhamsai Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The Ceremony was led by Phra Ajahn Khamphan Inthavong, Abbot of Wat Silavanaram.

The ceremony was attended by H.E. Mrs. Krongkanit Rakcharoen, Ambassador of Thailand to Lao PDR; Mr. Apichart Phetcharatana, Vice President of the Thai-Lao Association for Friendship; Mr. Surapon Charoenpoom, Governor of Buengkan Province; Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Chief Executive Officer of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat, together with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Team Thailand, the Thai-Lao Association for Friendship, and members of the Thai and Laotian Buddhist communities, and distinguished guests from the Lao PDR’s side, including H.E. Mr. Sonethanou Thammavong, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and President of the People’s Council of Bolikhamsai Province, and H.E. Mr. Sisavath Inphachanh, Ambassador of Lao PDR to Thailand.

This year’s Royal Kathina offering received contributions from His Majesty the King, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Thai and Laotian devotees with total donations amounting to 919,900 Thai Baht, and 29,435,000 Laotian Kip.

This marks the 27th presentation of the Royal Kathina Robes in Lao PDR and the 2nd occasion in Bolikhamsai Province after Wat Phosixaytham in 2016. Wat Silavanaram was selected by the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane, the Thai-Lao Association for Friendship and the Laotian side this year as a people-to-people initiative to strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries after Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand graciously presided over the opening ceremony of the Fifth Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge (Bueng Kan–Bolikhamsai) on 25 December 2025, together with the President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and his spouse.

Since 1995, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized the Presentation of the Royal Kathina Robes annually at Buddhist temples abroad as part of Thailand’s cultural and public diplomacy initiative to strengthen friendship and foster people-to-people ties through Buddhism. It has gradually expanded from neighbouring countries to ASEAN members, South Asia, and East Asia. In 2026, the Royal Kathina Robes were presented in six countries: Malaysia, India, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.