On 24 November 2016, H.E. Mr. Nopporn Adchariyavanich, Ambassador of Thailand to Sri Lanka, met with Honourable S. B. Dissanayake, Minister of Social Empowerment and Welfare of Sri Lanka, to discuss about the implementation of Thailand’s pilot development project based on Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP) of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Sri Lankan rural villages, as requested by the Sri Lankan Government. On this occasion, Honourable Minister Dissanayake expressed his appreciation to the Government of Thailand for the said project, which will help support the development of Sri Lankan communities in rural areas, and promote sustainable development of the country. H.E. Ambassador Nopporn also presented three books to Honourable Minister Dissanayake, namely “Sufficiency Economy: A Bridge to Sustainable Development”, “Sufficiency Economy Philosophy: Thailand’s Path towards Sustainable Development Goals”, as well as the commemorative book of 2015 on the 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Thailand and Sri Lanka. 

      Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) and Community Development Department (CDD) will implement the development project based on the SEP in two Sri Lankan villages in Kandy and Polonnaruwa, which were selected by the Ministry of Social Empowerment and Welfare of Sri Lanka. The Thai officials concerned of the TICA and CDD will visit the proposed two locations on 5-10 December 2016 in order to survey and gather relevant information.