President to visit Thailand

President Mahinda Rajapaksa will leave for Thailand today (Tuesday 29) as a guest of the Royal Thai government. During his visit to Thailand, the President will hold bilateral talks with Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Prime Minister Shinawatra will host a luncheon in honour of President Rajapaksa, according to a release issued by Presidential Spokesman and International Media Advisor Bandula Jayasekera.

A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of External Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand on Bilateral Political Consultations and Exchanging of the Instruments of Ratification for the Treaty between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters will also take place during the visit of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to Thailand.

Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will grant an audience to President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the Srapathum Palace. The Princess will host a dinner in honour of the President.

President Rajapaksa will attend the opening ceremony of the Buddha Jayanthi, the celebration of 2,600 years of the Buddha’s Enlightenment on Thursday, May 31. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will deliver a speech on ‘Buddha’s enlightenment for the well-being of humanity’ on Saturday, June 2 at the celebration of the Buddha Jayanthi.

During his visit to the Thai capital, President Rajapaksa will attend a Business Forum and a Business luncheon with Thai and Sri Lankan business leaders.

From time immemorial Sri Lanka and Thailand have had very close religious, cultural, political and trade relations. Sri Lanka and Thailand established modern diplomatic relations on November 20, 1955.