On 11 October 2014, H.E. Mr. Thakur Phanit, Vice President for International Affairs, Chulabhorn Research Institute and former Ambassador of Thailand to Sri Lanka, presided over the Royal Kathin Robe Offering Ceremony, graciously bestowed by His Majesty the King through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to the congregation of monks at Sri Sambodhi Viharaya Monastery, Colombo, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Also present at the ceremony were H.E. Mr. Nopporn Adchariyavanich, Ambassador of Thailand to Sri Lanka; Mr. Russ Jalichandra, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand; and the representatives from Team Thailand (Thai government offices) in Sri Lanka; H.E. Mr. Patali Champika Ranawaka, Minister of Technology and Research of Sri Lanka; Admiral Jayanath Colombage, former Commander-in-Chief of the Sri Lankan Navy, and Spouse; Spouse of Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander-in-Chief of the Sri Lankan Army; and around 200 Thai and Sri Lankan Buddhists.

The benevolence of His Majesty the King as the upholder of religions is specially recognized at the Royal Kathin Robe Offering Ceremony at Sri Sambodhi Viharaya Monastery, manifesting through the warm welcoming procession of traditional dancers and Sri Lankan Buddhists. Dharanagama Kusaladhamma Thera, Chief Incumbent of the Monastery, highly complimented His Majesty for his diverse initiatives  in improving the lives of Thai peoples. The ceremony this year received widespread attention and was broadcasted live on Buddhist TV channel and on-line at http://www.thebuddhist.tv/online-tv.php. The donation by His Majesty the King and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as the Thai and Sri Lankan Buddhists totaled 1,368,850 Sri Lankan Rupees (approximately 342,100 Baht).

The offering of the Royal Kathin Robe is part of Thailand’s cultural diplomacy which aims to strengthen people-to-people contacts and bilateral relations between Thailand and friendly countries, especially Sri Lanka which we share a long and close Buddhist culture and history. Besides, this year’s Ceremony marked the beginning of the commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between Thailand and Sri Lanka in 2015. Sri Sambodhi Viharaya Monastery houses the world’s first complete Ramanized Pali Tipitaka, which Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana presented to H.E. Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, former President of Sri Lanka, in 2005.