On 11 October 2025, Mr. Chettaphan Maksamphan, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs, represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand in presiding over the Presentation Ceremony of the Royal Kathina Robes graciously bestowed by His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua at the Khemarama Keng Tung Monastery, with Mr. U Thein Win, Director-General of the Department for the Promotion and Propagation of the Sāsanā, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Culture of Myanmar, as the Guest of Honour. 

The ceremony was attended by H.E. Mr. Mongkol Visitstump, Ambassador of Thailand to Myanmar, Mrs. Maratee Nalita Andamo, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Team Thailand, Diplomatic Corps, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Myanmar, Myanmar’s private sector, including executives of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI), the Chairman of Shew Taung Development Co., Ltd., as well as the Thai private sector and Buddhist practitioners from both Thailand and Myanmar.

This year’s Royal Kathina offering received contributions from His Majesty the King, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Thai and Myanmar devotees with total donations amounting to 342,000 THB and 5,047.00 USD. 

The Khemarama Keng Tung Monastery, was founded in 1993 by U Shwe Aye, a Tai Khün layperson, and devout individuals from Yangon. The temple is maintained through the support of the local people, as well as followers from both within Myanmar and abroad. It also engages in numerous charitable activities, particularly the construction of religious sites and the provision of education to novice monks. The temple offer courses in Buddhist scriptures to monks and novices who come from various monasteries and temples. Additionally, it also provides financial assistance to novices who wish to continue their studies at the monastic university in Yangon.

This event marks the 24th Royal Kathina Ceremony organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Myanmar, underscoring the strong bilateral ties that span over 70 years, rooted in long-standing spiritual and cultural bonds between Thailand and Myanmar and their shared Buddhist heritage. 

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 diplomacy efforts to strengthen friendship and foster people-to-people ties through Buddhism. The initiative has gradually expanded from neighbouring countries to ASEAN members, South Asia, and East Asia. In  2025, the Royal Kathina Robes are being presented in eight countries - India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Lao PDR, Viet Nam and China.