On 27 July 2016, His Excellency Mr. Nopporn Adchariyavanich, Ambassador of Thailand to Sri Lanka, hosted a dinner for Honourable Mr. S. B. Dissanayake, Minister of Social Empowerment and Welfare of Sri Lanka (right), and Honourable Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development of Sri Lanka (left).

            On this occasion, Ambassador Adchariyavanich said to Honourable Dissanayake, who once visited various royal initiative projects in Thailand, that Thai and Sri Lankan societies had distinct similarities, in particular, being an agricultural community. In addition, both Thai and Sri Lankan people in rural areas also share common characteristics.  Therefore, with an aim to improving the livelihood of the people in remote areas, Thailand and Sri Lanka should cooperate on sustainable development based on the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy (SEP). In this regard, Ambassador Adchariyavanich presented a Concept Paper on Sustainable Community Development Model based on the Application of the Philosophy of Sufficiency Economy, and the relevant document to Honourable Dissanayake, who well received the principles and stood ready to cooperate with Thailand to promote the well-being of the Sri Lankan people in the rural areas.

           In relation to Thai-Sri Lanka fisheries cooperation, Honourable Amaraweera invited Thai companies to do a joint venture in fishing and fisheries related industry in Sri Lanka, which includes establishing cold storage and fish cannery in Sri Lanka. In this regard, Honourable Amaraweera ensured that the Sri Lankan Government would fully facilitate and support the Thai companies doing fisheries business in Sri Lanka, including recommending Sri Lankan fisheries companies for a joint venture, providing investment incentives, and suggesting appropriate areas for setting up a cold storage and fish cannery. Honourable Amaraweera added that the Sri Lankan Government was going to issue new rules and regulations, which would further promote the joint venture between Sri Lankan and foreign partners in fisheries. In this connection, Ambassador Adchariyavanich commended the said Sri Lankan efforts in promoting foreign investment and pledged to inform the Thai fisheries companies of the more conducive investment opportunity in Sri Lanka.