Minister of Culture Sermsak Pongpanich of Thailand assures Ambassador Chaminda Colonne of Sri Lanka to strengthen the Bilateral Relations

On 11 th January 2024, Ambassador of Sri Lanka and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, C.A. Chaminda I. Colonne paid a courtesy call on newly appointed Minister of Culture of Thailand, Sermsak Pongpanich at the Ministry of Culture of Thailand.

After warmly welcoming the Ambassador Chaminda Colonne, Minister Sermsak Pongpanich recalled the long standing excellent friendly relations between Sri Lanka and Thailand based on Theravada Buddhism.

Both discussed in detail on establishing a Thai language Centre and Sinhala language centre in Sri Lanka and Thailand respectively, the possibilities of providing a suitable location to establish a Sri Lankan corner to showcase the Sri Lankan arts, literature, etc. , providing training programmes for school children in order to upgrade their skills on drama, performing arts at Thai cultural centres, creation of a documentary in Sinhala, Thai, Lao & Khmer languages on historical places in Theravada countries including Thailand, Cambodia and Lao PDR

They further discussed on implementing bilateral Cultural Agreement signed in year 1981 facilitating long term and short term scholarship programmes, exchange programmes of professors, scholars and members of cultural and art institutions, grant scholarships for members of Sanga and other religious dignitaries. Both also exchanged views on programming of series of events in year 2025 to celebrate the 65 th Anniversary of establishment of formal diplomatic relations between two countries.

The invitation extended by the Ambassador Chaminda Colonne to the Minister Sermsak Pongpanich to visit Sri Lanka at a convenient time in the near future, was warmly accepted.

Vice Minister of Culture, Phonphum Wiphatphumiprathet, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Culture, Yuthika Isarangkura, Secretary to the Minister of Culture, Penpisut Jintasophon of Thailand and First Secretary/Head of Chancery A.W.S. Samanmali, First Secretary (Commercial), Vireshika Bandara of the of the Mission of Sri Lanka joined the discussion.

Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Bangkok, Thailand
11.01.2024