BANGKOK, 3 May 2011 – The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has organized a merit-making ceremony for Sanam Luang prior to its reopening in June while new regulations for the public use of the ground will be concluded on 6 May.
Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra presided over the merit-making ceremony at Sanam Luang and gave alms to 229 Buddhist monks on the occasion of the reopening of the ceremonial ground after it had been closed for renovation since July 2010. He stated that the BMA was prepared to hand over the site to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives for the arrangement of the Royal Ploughing Ceremony on 13 May. Afterwards, small details of the renovation project will be finished before the ground is officially opened early next month.
On 6 May, MR Sukhumbhand will convene with the committee responsible for the improvement of Rattanakosin Island to bring conclusion to the new set of regulations for the use of Sanam Luang by public members. The Bangkok Governor said among the issues to be raised during the meeting was the ground’s operational hours from 5.00 to 24.00 hrs. He added that tight security would be provided at the site 24 hours a day with over 60 officials during nighttime.
As for political parties’ use of Sanam Luang for election campaign activities, the Governor was personally not in favor of the idea, reasoning that political events and demonstrations in the past had often caused disorder and damages within the ground while many attendants did not abide by the regulations.
In addition, MR Sukhumbhand noted that Sanam Luang would be reserved for celebrative activities on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King’s 84th birthday anniversary in December this year.
