Grand Water Festival Cancelled

On Thursday, October 13, 2011, Prime Minister Samdech Akeak Moha Sena Thapdey Techo HUN SEN announced the cancellation of this year's Water Festival which was due to take place in the capital from November 9 to 11.  Speaking at a special Council of Ministers meeting to assess damages caused by the floods in the Kingdom, the premier told the council that the funds for the annual three-day Water Festival celebrations could be better utilised to help the tens of thousands of families affected by the disasters instead.

The nation's biggest annual festival usually attracts about two million citizens from the various provinces around the country to the capital to enjoy boat races, fireworks and concerts. Unfortunately, the weather has caused the country to suffer it's deadliest floods since 2000, forcing Prime Minister Samdech Decho Hun Sen to decide on calling off the event in the capital.  Prime Minister Samdech Akeak Moha Sena Thapdey Techo HUN SEN also felt that the precariously high water level of the Tonle Sap river that flows through the city would present a "high risk" to revellers.

However, Samdech Techo affirmed that the Water Festival celebrations can still be held in the provinces if at local level, the respective provinces could afford the expenses.