The Cabinet has approved leave for civil servants, government officials, and state enterprise employees to join the ordination project dedicated to "Her Majesty the Queen Mother."
On 21 July 2026, Ms. Ploytale Laksamee Sangchan, Deputy Spokesperson of the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Cabinet approved all types of civil servants, government employees, permanent and temporary staff of government agencies and state enterprises to participate in the ordination, bhikkhuni ordination, and meditation program dedicated to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, in the Buddhist holy lands of India and Nepal from 7 to 19 August 2026. This participation is considered a special case, not counted as leave, and treated as regular official duty.
The project is open to government personnel and the general public aged 20 to 75, with a total of 220 participants divided into four groups: novice ordination (men) with 80 people; bhikkhuni ordination (women) with 80 people; meditation ordination (men and women) with 40 people; and 20 volunteer staff for the project.
The purpose is for participants to study and learn Buddhist teachings, express loyalty, and reflect gratitude for the Queen Mother's royal benevolence through performing good deeds and practicing meditation as a royal merit offering. The government thus supports providing government personnel who wish to join the project the opportunity to participate fully without loss of work rights.