Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and First Lady, Lok Chumteav Pich Chanmony, presided over a Preah Sokunveray (fragran water) offering ceremony – a Buddhist ritual – to 11 senior monks.
The event was held at Mony Sovann pagoda, aka Champous Ka-ek, located in Sangkat Prek Thmey, Khan Chbar Ampov, Phnom Penh this morning.
Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet said this event is one of the witnesses of peace and development in Cambodia.
The Premier acknowledged the important role played by Buddhism and other religions in Cambodia in building a harmonious society.
Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet reassured that there is no religious discrimination in Cambodia. “We fully respect the religious freedom and each religion has progressed without discrimination. We have so far lived in harmony,” he underlined.
Buddhism is the state religion of Cambodia, but the country fully respects the religious freedom. The majority of the population are Buddhist, while the rest follow Islam, Christianity, animism and so on.
According to H.E. Chay Borin, Minister of Cults and Religious Affairs, there are currently 5,133 pagodas with a total of 68,900 monks in Cambodia.
