On 22 October 2014, Mrs. Natnapang Damrongsoontornchai, Charge’ d’ Affaires of the Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo and the Embassy staff participated in the opening ceremony of the renovated ancient building at Ranwella Temple in Galle. The ceremony was graced by Hon. Mr. Chandima Weerakkody, Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

 

            Hon. Mr. Weerakkoday, who is also the Member of Parliament in Galle District, expressed his deep appreciation to the Royal Thai Embassy for the contribution to the restoration of the building, which was badly damaged by the blaze in November 2012.

 

            The Ranwella Temple has special relations with Thailand as the first Sinhala printing machine, which was given to Sri Lanka by King Mongkut (Rama IV) of Thailand in 1862, has been kept in the temple. This printing machine is also important to the history of Sri Lanka as it was used to print the first Sinhala newspaper, Lanka Lokaya, to promote Buddhism against the propaganda of the missionaries.

 

            The Royal Thai Embassy donated Rs. 825,423 to Ranwella Temple through the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka to support the renovation of the ancient building of the temple.