AKP Phnom Penh, February 17, 2025 --

\His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia, has spoken highly of Buddhism and laid stress on four key roles played by pagodas in Cambodian society development since ancient times to the present. 

Addressing at the inauguration ceremony of the Samdech Preah Sangharaja Chuon Nath Grand Building and Khmer Manuscript Research and Conservation Institute, as well as other achievements at Ounalom Pagoda in Phnom Penh this morning, His Majesty the King said Buddhist pagodas have promoted and cultivated morality and virtue, contributing to the harmonisation in the Cambodian society, both religiously and socially. 

Moreover, he continued, Cambodian Buddhist pagodas are the place of education, both physically and mentally, building all kinds of human resources; and a repository for preserving culture, traditions, customs, and rich knowledge. 

The monarch underlined that Cambodian Buddhist pagodas are also a place of great importance in mainstreaming and preserving the identity and soul of the nation since ancient times. 

Besides, pagodas provide shelter and a learning place for the underprivileged, and some of them have become leaders,” he said. “Buddhist pagodas become an inseparable catalyst of Cambodian people’s daily life and social development, i.e. pagoda and society are one.

” The inauguration ceremony was attended by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, President of the Senate and President of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King; Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly; Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister; and many others senior leaders and foreign ambassadors. 

This pagoda (Ounalom) is known to be an ancient Buddhist monastery that is the birthplace of the Khmer dictionary through the work of Samdech Preah Sangharaja Chuon Nath, said His Majesty the King. Until now, Ounalom is known as a place of worship and an active and dynamic place contributing to the education and academic studies in Cambodia.

His Majesty the King also expressed his appreciation to the Royal Government of Cambodia for its support to the Buddhism development in the country.

The Kingdom has in total 5,146 pagodas with more than 70,000 monks across the country.

By Heng Panha