FM recalls establishment of Amarapura and Ramanna Nikayas in talks with Myanmar envoy

Ambassador of Myanmar to Sri Lanka U Han Thu meeting Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena

Ambassador of Myanmar to Sri Lanka U Han Thu called on Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena recently.

During their discussion Foreign Minister Gunawardena recalled the longstanding Sri Lanka-Myanmar fraternal bilateral ties and shared history, based on Buddhist links over centuries.

He also recollected the establishment of the Amarapura and Ramanna Nikayas in Sri Lanka in 1803 and 1865 respectively as testimonies of the strong bilateral relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Thu endorsing the comments stated that more than 400 Buddhist priests from Myanmar were currently studying in Sri Lanka. 

Both dignitaries agreed that political relations between the two countries had been fruitful over the years through various mechanisms and in particular underscored the importance of rejuvenating the Sri Lanka-Myanmar parliamentary Friendship Group.

Foreign Minister Gunawardena thanked the Myanmar Government for the annual offers of the Honorary Title ‘Aggamaha Panditha’ to erudite Sri Lankan monks, which is a symbol of the strong ties based on Theravada Buddhism.

Minister Gunawardena said that it was important that both countries look at possible areas for economic cooperation in the post-COVID phase and highlighted areas such as the coconut industry, agriculture, Buddhist tourism, rubber, and shipping.

The meeting was attended by officials of the Foreign Ministry of Sri Lanka and the Embassy of Myanmar in Colombo.