Late Thai King's birthday remains public holiday

BANGKOK, November 22 (TNA) - The Cabinet has resolved to maintain every December 5, the day when late His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej was born, a public holiday, while also setting every Wednesday a day for a mass physical exercise of government officials. Assistant Government Spokeswoman Colonel Taksada Sangkhachan told journalists of the official decisions on Tuesday, after the Cabinet's weekly meeting at Bangkok's Government House earlier in the day. For the upcoming December 5, the assistant spokesman said, the Bureau of the Royal Household will organise royal activities, including an alms offering and other merit-making ceremonies, to pay tribute to the late and beloved Thai King. The assistant spokesman announced that the Cabinet also approved January 2-3, 2017 additional New Year holidays. According to the assistant spokesman, Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha also set Wednesdays for mass physical exercises of government officials at the Government House during 3-4:30pm, starting from November 30, the activity of which is expected to be followed suit by other government agencies. The assistant spokeswoman stated that the weekly activity is in response to a report from the International Congress on Physical Activity and Health 2016 that most Thai children and senior citizens have the habits of sitting down to play tablet computers or watching television for too long. (TNA)