Local residents and public officials marked the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen Sirikit with traditional ceremonies during the evening of 11 August and the daytime of 12 August, Celebrations of the annual Mother’s Day holiday in Phuket included a food offering to monks and a release of juvenile sea turtles into the sea.

Governor Niran Kalayanamit, Vice Governor Tri Augkaradacha, Vice Governor Worapot Rattasima and Vice Governor Smith Palawatvichai joined other local officials and nearly 1,000 Phuket residents on 12 August to make merit with an offering of food to 99 monks from across the island province. Some of the food will be sent as a donation to temples in southern provinces where monks cannot collect alms because of ongoing violence.  
Also on 12 August, the local branch of the Royal Thai Navy arranged a mass release of sea turtles, a traditional celebration of the holiday in Phuket. Admiral Supot Prueksa of the Third Naval Command joined with his official staff as well as students and residents of the Vichit District to send 447 sea turtles between 4 and 8 months old into the Andaman Sea waters at Cape Panwa.

“The annual turtle release is held to increase the breeding of sea turtles, which are nearly extinct,” he said. “This year we found that sea turtles in the Andaman Sea come to the shore to lay eggs more and more — around a 100 percent increase. “The Royal Thai Navy Third is a preservation centre for sea turtles, and currently we have around 2,000 turtles, which is more than past years. The reason so many turtles come to lay eggs at this shore is because of the plentiful aquatic environment. However, since the number of turtles laying eggs here is increasing, we don’t have enough budget to spend on food for them. Anyone kindly wishing to donate money to help with food for turtles can contact Royal Thai Navy Third, Cape Panwa.”