PM Prayut Chan-o-cha traces Thai-Lanka relations to as far back as 700 years

By Prsanna Brahamana
reporting from Bangkok

Outgoing Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha while welcoming his Lankan counterpart Dinesh Gunawardena to Bangkok, on Wednesday, stated that Thailand and Sri Lanka’s bilateral ties go as far back as over 700 years.

Premier Gunawardena is in Thailand to attend the two-day celebrations marking Vesak or Visakha Bucha in Thai, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.

Thailand is hosting the 18th United Nations International Day of Vesak Celebration 2023 on the theme “Buddhist Wisdom Coping with Global Crises.”

More than 3,500 monks and religious figures arrived in Thailand to attend ceremonies that were held in Bangkok and Ayutthaya on Thursday and Friday.Once the ceremony is over, Prime Ministers Prayut and Gunawardena are expected to discuss the Thailand-Sri Lanka free trade agreement, which should be finalised by next year.

Also on the agenda will be discussions on coping with global geopolitical tensions as well as Sri Lanka’s ongoing problems.Thai PM Prayut said Thailand is ready to share its knowledge on subjects like public health, agriculture, tourism, the bio-circular-green economy initiative and other know-how that should help pull Sri Lanka out of its economic doldrums.