Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Phumtham Wechayachai of the Kingdom of Thailand joins as Guest of Honour at Celebrations of the 76th Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence at the Siam Society under the Royal Patronage in Bangkok on 09th February 2024

After signing Sri Lanka – Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA) on 3 rd February 2024 in Colombo, and making new era of Sri Lanka – Thailand bilateral relations, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Phumtham Wechayachai, joined as Guest of Honour at Celebrations of Sri Lanka’s 76 th Anniversary of Independence in Bangkok held at the Siam Society under the Royal Patronage in Bangkok on 09 th February 2024 organized by the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Thailand.

More than 300 guests, including Ministers, Deputy Ministers, Ambassadors, Members of the diplomatic corps, Senators and Members of the National Assembly, Members of the Royal Thai Police and Tri Forces, Representatives of International Organizations, Senior Officials of the Ministries, Departments, Agencies of the Government of Thailand, Business Entities, Universities and other agencies in Thailand and the Sri Lankan community joined the celebrations at the invitation of Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP Chaminda Colonne and Spouse Stephan Senanayake.

By lighting the traditional oil lamp, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Phumtham Wechayachai and the Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, Chaminda Colonne, commenced the proceedings of the Celebrations of the 76^th Anniversary of the Independence of Sri Lanka in Bangkok.

The Royal Anthem of the Kingdom of Thailand was sung, followed by the National Anthem of Sri Lanka in Sinhala and Tamil languages. Thereafter, two minutes of silence was observed, in remembrance of all, who sacrificed their lives for the nation. During the welcome address, Ambassador Chaminda Colonne stated that Sri Lanka-Thailand bilateral relations spans over more than seven centuries based on Theravada Buddhism, and will be celebrating 70^th Anniversary of establishment of formal Diplomatic Relations with Thailand, next year, in 2025. Ambassador Chaminda Colonne further added that signifying the strength of diplomatic ties between the two nations, the Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin of the Kingdom of Thailand, was the Guest of Honour at the Celebrations of 76^th Anniversary of Sri Lanka’s Independence in Colombo on 4 th February 2024, at the invitation of the President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka and witnessed the historic occasion of signing of the Sri Lanka – Thailand Free Trade Agreement (SLTFTA) in Colombo on 3 rd February 2024. Ambassador also stated that Bilateral Air Services Agreement signed in 1950 was renewed and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Gem and Jewellery Research and Training Institute of Sri Lanka and The Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand was also concluded on 3 rd February 2024 in Colombo.

The Independence Day messages of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Sabry of Sri Lanka were read by the Ambassador.

Thereafter, Ambassador Chaminda Colonne proposed a toast for the good health and happiness of His Majesty the King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Her Majesty the Queen, the continued progress and prosperity of the Government and people of the Kingdom of Thailand, further strengthening of the longstanding excellent relations between Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of Thailand.

During his special address, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, Phumtham Wechayachai, stated that “Thailand and Sri Lanka have enjoyed strong and close relations at every level, based on our shared historical and cultural connections, especially in Therawada Buddhism. In terms of our economic relations, Sri Lanka is Thailand’s important trading partner in South Asia. With her strategic logistics location at the crossroad of main maritime routes in Indian Ocean, connecting to South Asia, Africa and Europe, Sri Lankan is also a country with tremendous business potential.

Last year two thousand twenty three (2023), the bilateral trade between Thailand and Sri Lanka amounted to four hundred and fifteen million US dollars, an increase of Sixteen percent (16%) from the previous year. This year, our economic relations become much closer and more tangible following the finalization and the signing of the FTA between Thailand and Sri Lanka in Colombo last week.

Last weekend, I accompanied His Excellency Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin during his official visit to Sri Lanka as the Guest of Honour to attend the Celebrations of Sri Lanka’s 76th Independence Day. I witnessed the rapid economic recovery of Sri Lanka, with rising number of tourist arrival and tourism revenue and stabilizing currency and inflation rate.

I therefore commend the Government of Sri Lanka on this impressive outcome. I am confident that Sri Lanka will achieve her true economic potential soonest.

During the visit, I and His Excellency Nalin Fernando, Minister of Trade, Commerce and Food Security of Sri Lanka also signed the Free Trade Agreement between Thailand and Sri Lanka, which is Thailand’s fifteenth FTA in Colombo. I am more than confident that the FTA will be an important instrument to boost our trade, investment and economic cooperation in years to come.

The Ministry of Commerce also organized the Sri Lanka – Thailand Business Networking Forum “Exploring Market Opportunities to Trade and Investment” in Colombo with the support of the Ministry of Trade, Commerce, and Food Security of Sri Lanka and the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka. The kick-off event was a great success with a huge number of businessmen from both Sri Lanka and Thailand participated. It also fulfilled its objective in providing trade and investment opportunities for business people from both countries following the finalization of the FTA.

I sincerely hope that further such interactions and exchanges will take place between our two countries in coming years to further enhance the bilateral trade and economic relations to the next level. I believe that this will bring about prosperity for the people of our two countries”.

Thereafter, a toast was proposed by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce Phumtham Wechayachai, of the Kingdom of Thailand for His Excellency Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Sri Lanka, progress and prosperity of the Government and people of Sri Lanka and long-lasting Sri Lanka Thailand bilateral relations.

The event was concluded with the dinner reception hosted by Ambassador Chaminda Colonne and Spouse Stephan Senanayake.

In the morning of 04 th February 2024 Ambassador Chaminda Colonne hoisted the national flag and religious observances were also conducted by Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Islam clergies at the Official Residence of the Ambassador.

Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Bangkok, Thailand
14.02.2024