Kathmandu : Defence Minister Bhimsen Das Pradhan, representing the Government and the people of Nepal, participated in the Royal Cremation of Thailand’s Late Monarch Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The Cremation Ceremony was held in Bangkok on 26 October 2017. Minister Pradhan was accompanied by his spouse, Bidya Banmali Pradhan, and Mr. Durga Prasad Bhandari, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Khaga Nath Adhikari, Ambassador of Nepal to the Kingdom of Thailand, also participated in the programme, the Embassy of Nepal in Bangkok stated in a press release today.
Forty-two high-level foreign dignitaries participated in the Cremation Ceremony. During a brief audience with His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun of Thailand on 26 October, the Minister expressed deep and heartfelt condolences from the Government and the people of Nepal to His Majesty the King, Thai Royal Family and the friendly people of Thailand on the irreparable loss.
Upon arrival in Bangkok on 25 October, Minister Pradhan was warmly welcomed by Gen. Sirichai Distakul, Minister of Labour of Thailand, representative of Thai Foreign Ministry and other high-level officials of the Royal Thai Government.
Minister of Defence returned to Kathmandu today, 27 October. Minister of Labour of Thailand, Distakul, the Chief of Protocol of the Thai Foreign Ministry and other high-level officials of the Royal Thai Government bade farewell to the Minister at the airport.
Ambassador Dr. Khaga Nath Adhikari and other Embassy officials were also present at the airport to welcome and see-off the Minister.
His Majesty the Late King had passed away on 13 October 2016. His physical body had been kept in the Grand Palace in Bangkok where a large number of Thai citizens and foreign dignitaries continued visiting to pay their final respect. President of Nepal, Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari, had reached Bangkok and paid tribute to the late King in May 2017.
