Deputy PM Somkid on visit to Sri Lanka

COLOMBO, 9 March 2016 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak is in Sri Lanka to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation between the two countries.

On this trip, Mr Somkid is accompanied by Minister of Commerce Apiradee Tantraporn, Minister of Industry Atchaka Sibunruang and other high-ranking officials of public and private organizations. Upon arrival in the capital Colombo, the group was warmly greeted by Sri Lankan Minister of Buddhist Affairs Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe.

The deputy premier’s visit is aimed to follow up on the implementation of joint resolutions on cooperation in trade and investment, tourism, agriculture, fisheries and academia. Such resolutions were reached between Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena during the latter’s visit to Thailand last November.

Besides meetings with the President, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, Mr Somkid is also scheduled to attend a bilateral meeting of economic ministers and a business matching session.


-- NNT 2016-03-09

group was warmly greeted by Sri Lankan Minister of Buddhist Affairs

This is a platitude at best and disrespectful at worse in greeting a Deputy Prime Minister of the Prayut regime.

But in view of Sri Lanka being a democratic republic since 1978 and Thailand being controlled by the military, perhaps the arrangement was a diplomatic choice by focusing on something the two countries have in common - Buddhism.