Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said on Thursday (October 17) that inclement weather and strong currents in the Chao Phraya River had affected a series of rehearsals this month and the later date would assure participants and spectators of better conditions.

Wissanu said a further rehearsal would go ahead on October 21 as scheduled.

The projects named by the late monarch are:

Mae Ngad Somboon Chon Dam

King Rama IX renamed the dam on January 16, 1986 before presiding over its opening ceremony the following month. Formally known as Mae Ngad Dam, it is based on the Nam Ngad River, a territory of the Ping River. The dam is located in Chiang Mai’s Mae Taeng. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) built a hydropower plant at the site in 1985, with a generating capacity of 9,000 kilowatts. It is able to produce 19 million kilowatts per hour.

Mae Kuang Udom Thara Dam

This 66-metre wide, 610-metre long dam is based on Mae Kuang River in Chiang Mai’s Doi Saket district. The dam, which was named by the late monarch on February 18, 1995, supplies water to 13 sub-districts in Chiang Mai and Lamphun, covering approximate 175,000 rai. This project was part of the Mae Kuang basin irrigation development plan after the construction of the Pha Khao Dam in 1935, which was later renovated, and its capacity expanded to cover 72,750 rai. After the late king inspected the renovation work on March 4, 1976, he briefed the Royal Irrigation Department on developing the Mae Kuang River and finding ways of providing farming land to the people.

Pasak Cholasid

The royally initiated project, completed on February 19, 1989, was personally named by King Rama IX on November 25, 1999. The project was designed by the monarch to solve both water shortages as well as floods in Bangkok and surrounding areas brought by the overflowing Pasak River. The dam, located in Lop Buri’s Phattana Nikhom district, is believed to be the longest in the country and can store an average of 2,400 million cubic metres of water a year.

Utok Viphachaprasit Water Gate

The name of the project, meaning the ability to successfully separate fresh water from saltwater, was given by King Rama IX, when he initiated the project. It was the primary chapter of the Pak Phanang River development project and construction began on October 1, 1999. The water gate blocks seawater from flowing into the river and stores fresh water for human consumption. It also supports the natural resources in the Pak Phanang area.

Khun Dan Prakan Chon Dam

Located in Nakhon Nayok’s Muang district, this project was initiated by the late monarch to help alleviate the problem of water shortage in Nakhon Nayok and other provinces nearby. The dam can hold up to 224 million cubic metres of water.

Khwae Noi Bamrung Dan Dam

Located in Phitsanulok’s Wat Bot district, this dam can hold up to 769 million cubic metres of water and irrigate about 151,166 rai of farmland in Khwae Noi irrigation area and 250,000 rai in the Chao Phraya irrigation area during the dry season. The project was completed in 2008, after King Rama IX initiated the project on December 4, 1995.

Thorani Naruemit or Kam watergate

This project located in Nakhon Phanom’s That Phanom district was also initiated by King Rama IX and completed on September 12, 2011.

Lam Pha Yang water diversion project

The late monarch initiated the diverting of water from the Huai Pai Reservoir to replenish the Lampayang Reservoir in order to expand irrigation areas as well as solve the problems of the flooding and water shortage in Kalasin’s Khao Wong district.

All proceeds from sales will go to charitable causes under the foundation.

Her Royal Highness Princess Soamsawali Krom Muen Suddhanarinatha graciously appointed Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati to kindly preside over the opening of the event on Monday.

Elaborative handbags and a wide variety of handicrafts have been created and made from pieces of fabric and leather donated by many companies, as well as reusable and fashionable products made by disabled war veterans under the Sai Jai Thai Foundation.

The foundation was set up in 1975 after His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother benevolently spoke about fostering veterans and their families. HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great graciously appointed HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to be chairman of the foundation to help war veterans earn a living despite their disabilities. The foundation’s training programmes include leather work, tailoring, woodwork and painting.

The opening ceremony featured a special performance with the theme being a throne celebration performed by leading actress Diana Flipo. She wore the latest collection of silk with prints of seven flowers and was joined by more than 30 guest models. Renowned singer Pijika Jittaputta performed a mini-concert on stage.

Product highlights include a limited collection of bags and satin silk scarves with wild bird prints designed by national artist in applied arts (architecture) Nithi Sathapitanon. The scarves aim to raise environmental awareness. There will also be a demonstration on mosaic painting. Shoppers can personalise the hand-painting style on the products they purchase at the event.

Thanpuying Puengjai Sinthawanon, foundation committee and deputy manager, said that Sai Jai Thai Week has been held continuously to promote the mission of helping military veterans and their families earn a living.

“By providing them with vocational training, they can make money from the products they produce. At present, there are more than 4,000 families throughout the country who are the foundation’s members. We still follow their Majesties’ wishes to foster them to live sustainably by helping them earn a living. Meanwhile, many colourful products under the Kamlangjai Project, or Inspire Project, graciously initiated by HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha, will add to the event.”

Said Sub-Lieutenant Suwit Srisrok, 70: “Although I have long retired, the foundation still provides me with the opportunity to work. I had no knowledge about leatherwork, but Sai Jai Thai Foundation trained me. It has now been more than 30 years that I, a disabled veteran, can make a living by making leather products. It was the late King Bhumibhol’s great benevolence that initiated the Sai Jai Thai Foundation.”

Starting from 1981, the princess has visited China many times, travelling to many places across the country, such as Sichuan province, and offering donations to earthquake victims in Yunnan province. She has accomplished a lot in exchanges between the two countries in the fields of culture, education, and science and technology, the paper said.

President Xi Jinping signed a presidential decree on September 17 to award 42 individuals the Medal of the Republic, the Friendship Medal and national honorary titles for their outstanding contributions to the nation’s development as China prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary, China Daily said.

The Princess is among seven foreigners chosen for the honour. The others are: former Cuban president Raul Modesto Castro Ruz; former prime minister of Tanzania Salim Ahmed Salim for promoting China-Tanzania and China-Africa friendship; Galina Kulikova, the first vice president of the Russia-China Friendship Association; former France prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron as special representative of the French government to China; and Canadian educator Isabel Crook, one of the first foreign teachers at a Chinese university and a pioneer of English teaching in China.

Chinese nationals winning the awards come from a range of fields, including politicians, diplomats, military personnel, scientists, agriculturists, as well as those from the fields of sports and arts.

Related news: 42 significant contributors honored medals and titles

In preparation for the historic Royal Barge Procession of the current monarch, the special force overseeing the procession – under the administration of the Royal Thai Navy – has invited people to witness the important occasion, and have revealed the arrival time of the King on the official day.

Gaiboon Suatsong, the commander of police strategy for the occasion, was joined by related teams at a Thursday press conference held at the security and traffic management centre. They invited people to watch the 12 rehearsals of the royal barge procession, as well as the official procession on October 24th, from both sides of the Chao Phraya River.

Taweepong Channgam, revealed the marine traffic plan for the formal rehearsal day today (August 29). Container ships and barges will be halted from 7am to 7pm or until the rehearsal has ended. The ferry will be halted from 10am to 12 noon, or until the rehearsal has ended and the royal barges have passed and pulled over to the Thon Buri dockyard.

Throughout the time, free shuttle buses will run from the Pinklao Bridge pier to the Tha Prachan and Maharaj piers from 10.30am to 7pm.

The Royal Thai navy will be responsible for the royal ceremony and security on both rehearsal day and the official day. His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana will arrive at Thavasuki at 3.30pm on the official day, and so everything has to be completely prepared before 3pm. The royal barge procession will take 45 minutes to an hour depending on the river current as Thailand’s rainy season has begun, he said.

Teeraphat Prayusid, a representative of the inspector general, invited people who live near Chao Phraya river to keep the area clean, and added that volunteers have been assigned to help clean up the riverside area. Volunteers will also help manage traffic both before and after the ceremony, guiding people who come to witness the historic occasion.

Major-General Sineenat Wongvajirapakdi was bestowed the rank of “Chao Khun Phra” or Royal Noble Consort on July 28 and His Majesty King Rama X anointed her with ceremonial water. The Royal Gazette also elevated her position as a Royal Kings’ Guard in the Ratchawallop Police Retainers.

According to the biography, Sineenat, 34, was formerly known as Niramon Ounprom. She was born on January 26, 1985, in Nan province, in the North of Thailand. She received her primary education at Ratchapiroyorasa Yuparachanusorn School in Tambon Tha Wang Pa, Tha Wang Pa district, and her secondary education at Tha Wang Pa Pittayakhom School. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the Royal Thai Army Nursing College, Class 41, in 2008. She was previously a nurse at the Phra Mongkutklao Hospital and at Ananda Mahidol Hospital during 2008-2012.

In 2015, the Royal Noble Consort was enrolled in the Ratchawallop Police Retainers, the Royal King’s Guards 904 as a colonel. She is currently listed as a Major General in May 2019.

Since 2014, the Royal Noble Consort has completed several training programmes including a Combat Qualifying Course in Jungle Warfare, royal bodyguard training, and parachuting. She also trained in aviation with the Thai Air Force in 2018 and received her Private Pilot License from Jesenwang in Germany.

The Royal Noble Consort has been honoured with the following decorations: Dame Grand Cross, 1st Class, The Most Illustrious Order of Chula Chom Klao; Dame Knight Commander, Special Class, The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant; Dame Knight Grand Cordon, Special Class, The Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand; Dame Knight Commander, 2nd Class, The Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant, and Rattanaporn Medal, 1st Class.

His Majesty the King granted a set of photographs to the public so they could appreciate Her Majesty’s royal graciousness.

Also attending the royal religious ceremony were Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana, Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha Narendiradebyavati, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, and Thanpuying Sirikitiya Jensen.

Their Majesties King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida, along with Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha and His Royal Highness Prince Dipangkorn Rasmijoti, graciously presided over the religious ceremony at the Emerald Buddha Temple on the auspicious occasion of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother’s Birthday anniversary on August 12, 2019.

Nationphoto: Tanachai Pramanpanich

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on Monday graciously presided over the opening of the “13th See San Pan Mai in Tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit” exhibition, which is being run by Royal Forest Department until August 14 at Queen Sirikit Park in Chatuchak district, Bangkok.

To commemorate Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother, on her 87th birthday anniversary, the botanical garden has been decorated with three exhibition zones that reflect a northeastern style household. The first zone, “Preservation”, features Her Majesty the Queen Mother’s royal initiatives to conserve forestry and the natural environment.

The second zone, “Creating Happiness”, emphasises the “Na Haew” model, a project that addresses people living in harmony with forests through royal projects that create extra income for the locals. The Royal Forestry Department has been encouraging the locals and communities to grow economic crops such as coffee and macadamia nuts.

The third zone, “Forest Clinic”, features officials able to advise on how to grow and to take care of various types of plants. In addition, more than 4,000 seedlings of yellow flowering trees are given away to the public such as teak, rosewood, yang, golden shower and yellow bell trees, to re-green areas of the country.

Queen Sirikit Park covers an area of 200 rai (32 hectares), and was intended as a plantation that mimics the diversity of plants in a natural forest. The park is also designated as one of Thailand’s ideal botanical gardens, where more than 2,000 species of local and foreign plants are preserved. Situated near the Chatuchak weekend market, the park’s trail is open daily 5am-8pm without charge, while the botanical building is closed on Mondays.

Nationphoto: Tanachai Pramanpanich

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha led Cabinet members and senior officials as well as the public in a ceremony that commenced at 8.30pm in the Sanam Luang ceremonial ground in front of the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

The government had invited state agencies, the private sector and the public to join the mass candlelighting ceremony at Sanam Luang and designated venues nationwide at 8.30pm on this auspicious day to pay tribute to HM the King  .