Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs says that about 30 Finnish citizens have announced that they will take part in ceremonies in Thailand next month to mark the first anniversary of the tsunami that devastated parts of Southeast Asia late last year.
A total of about 500 people from all over the world have signed up to attend the event, says Matti Junnila of the Finnish Foreign Ministry.
The number is much smaller than had been anticipated. In October, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said that 5,000 guests were expected at the ceremony on December 26th.
The Thai government is arranging the commemoration for areas hit by the disaster - Phangnang, Phuket, and Krabi. The ceremony for the next-of-kin of the victims, and for those who were injured in the tsunami, will include a multi-denominational memorial service, and the laying of a cornerstone for a monument to the victims.
The Thai government is paying about EUR 1,100 euros to each guest to offset travel costs.
