Sri Lanka and Thailand Bolster Defence Cooperation Through Officer-Level Engagement

A 21-member delegation from the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) of Sri Lanka, led by Captain S.K. Vidanage, USP, psc, GR of the Sri Lanka Navy, is currently undertaking a study tour in Thailand from 28 July to 8 August 2025. As part of the programme, the delegation visited the Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka in Bangkok on 29 July 2025.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP E.A.S. Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, warmly welcomed the visiting delegation and commended the significance of their visit in further strengthening defence diplomacy and the strategic partnership between Sri Lanka and Thailand.

In her address, Ambassador Edirisinghe reiterated Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to enhancing cooperation in the fields of defence and military education. She underscored the importance of sustained bilateral engagement and collaboration between the two countries. The Embassy hosted a reception in honour of the visiting delegation,

The Ambassador also took the opportunity to brief the delegation on the transnational crime increasing incidents of Sri Lankan nationals being trafficked or smuggled into Myanmar and Cambodia through various routes, including those transiting Thailand and requested Captain Vidanage to explore avenues for enhanced coordination between relevant law enforcement agencies of the two countries to counter human smuggling networks and strengthen intelligence sharing mechanisms.

Captain Vidanage acknowledged the growing relevance of Thailand in regional security architecture and expressed Sri Lanka’s interest in enhancing defence cooperation, particularly in areas where Thailand has advanced technological capabilities. He conveyed the delegation’s appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by the Embassy and reaffirmed their commitment to contributing to bilateral defence collaboration.

During the study tour, Embassy has arranged visits to Thai Government Agencies including Naval Command and Staff College, National Defence College, Command and General Staff College of Royal Thai Navy and Defence Technology Institute.

Embassy and Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka
Bangkok
05.08.2025