The remains of Thailand’s ambassador to the United States, the late Mr. Virachai Plasai, are scheduled to arrive in Bangkok today for cremation.

The late ambassador was given a dignified departure ceremony held at Dulles International Airport, Virginia, attended by chief of Protocol of the US Ambassador Sean Lawler and Patrick Murphy, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, representing the US government.

The Chargé d’affaires at the Thai embassy, Bousara Kanchanalai, and members of Team Thailand Washington DC also took part in the transfer ceremony.

Virachai passed away at the age of 58 on March 16th at Johns Hopkins hospital in Maryland where he was admitted for treatment for Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).

He was well known in Thailand for his role as the chief of the Thai legal team during the legal battle with Cambodia at the International Court of Justice in The Hague over the Preah Vihear (Phra Viharn in Thai) ancient temple from 2011 to 2013.