Official proceedings, entertainment events rescheduled

UPDATE (25 March): As a mark of respect for the passing of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister Mr Lee Kuan Yew during this period of National Mourning, several ticketed shows at The Esplanade – Theatres On The Bay – in addition to the non-ticketed shows - have also been cancelled. These include Tan Wei Xiang’s Grupo Clave (scheduled for March 28) and Virtuosos Of Chinese Music by the Ding Yi Music Company (March 29); as well as two concerts scheduled under the Festival of Indian Classical Music & Dance 2015 organised by the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS) in collaboration with The Esplanade: Anahata-Mystical Sounds Of Music (March 27) and Hari Shringara-Songs Of Love (March 29).

The remaining SIFAS programmes from March 30 to April 12 will continue as planned.

The Esplanade said that all patrons who purchased tickets for the aforementioned shows will receive full refunds. For the SIFAS shows, the refund period is between April 1 and 14, while those asking for refunds for Virtuosos Of Chinese Music and Wei Xiang’s concert, can claim them from March 28 to April 15. For more details and updates, visit http://www.esplanade.com/corporate_information/press_room/2015/03/index.jsp

SINGAPORE — As the nation mourns Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s passing, official proceedings have been cancelled or rescheduled as a mark of respect for the late former Prime Minister.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said today (March 23) that an introductory visit by Thailand’s Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to Singapore has been postponed.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had invited Gen Prayut here as part of the Singapore-Thailand Leaders’ Retreat from March 24 to 25.

The MFA said both countries have agreed to the postponement and “will work on resuming the visit and the retreat at a mutually convenient time”.

Earlier today, the Ministry of Home Affairs revoked the Public Entertainments and Meetings (Speakers’ Corner) (Exemption) Order. This means that applications to use the Speakers’ Corner at Hong Lim Park will not be accepted this week, as the park is one of the People’s Association’s designated community sites for remembering the late Mr Lee.

The Civil Defence Heritage Gallery and the Emergency Preparedness Centre will also be closed to the public until March 29, as will fire stations this weekend.

Entertainment events have also postponed or cancelled.

Several ticketed shows at The Esplanade – Theatres On The Bay – in addition to the non-ticketed shows - have also been cancelled. These include Tan Wei Xiang’s Grupo Clave (scheduled for March 28) and Virtuosos Of Chinese Music by the Ding Yi Music Company (March 29); as well as two concerts scheduled under the Festival of Indian Classical Music & Dance 2015 organised by the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society (SIFAS) in collaboration with The Esplanade: Anahata-Mystical Sounds Of Music (March 27) and Hari Shringara-Songs Of Love (March 29).

The remaining SIFAS programmes from March 30 to April 12 will continue as planned.

Similarly, the Chingay 2015 Heartland Parade @ Nee Soon GRC on March 28 — the last of five satellite Chingay parades organised to enable more people to enjoy this annual Chinese New Year celebrations — has been cancelled.

Other events, such as the official launch of the *SCAPE Invasion Tour — a youth-oriented programme to promote the local music scene at 32 schools — has been postponed and will “resume activities in April”, the organisers said.

Likewise, the Travel Revolution outbound travel fair — meant to rival the one organised by National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS) — has been moved from this week to April 3-5.