Sri Lanka seeks Thai investments at Colombo Port City – Gen Prayut seeks talks on FTA

Sri Lankan Ambassador in Bangkok Chaminda Colonne has requested Thai Prime Minister Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, to explore the possibility of investing in Colombo Port City project.

During her first courtesy call on the Premier at the Government House in Bangkok, Ambassador Colonne on Monday (6) invited Thai investors and on her request General Prayut directed the Board of Investment of Thailand to conduct a virtual meeting with the Colombo Port Commission and Sri Lanka Board of Investment.

Ambassador Colonne, who is also Sri Lanka’s Permanent Representative to United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) extended warm greetings to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha from President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Both recalled longstanding excellent bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries dating back to many centuries deeply rooted in the Theravada Buddhist traditions. Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha conveyed great affection towards the Government and People of Sri Lanka.

Emphasising on enhanced cooperation between Sri Lanka and Thailand in the fields of export, investment, especially in the context ofthe new normal, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha emphasised the need for accelerating negotiations on a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Both assured to strengthen bilateral economic and trade ties leading to an increased trade volume and to enhance investment with a win-win approach.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha also assured to continue in assisting Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 pandemic recovery and to provide technical cooperation in the fields of agriculture, fisheries and artificial rainmaking.

While highlighting her intention of promoting economic diplomacy with the Government of Thailand, especially in the ten areas identified under the Strategic Economic Partnership (SEP) and ‘One Village one Product’(OVOP) concept in Sri Lanka, Ambassador Colonne assured strong commitment during her tenure of office for consolidating Sri Lanka-Thai bilateral relations for mutual benefit.

Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha welcomed the proposal made by Ambassador Colonne to opening of a Thai language teaching centre in Sri Lanka and Sinhala language teaching centre in Thailand with a view to eliminate the language barrier between the two nations and to enhance people to people contacts.

Commending on excellent leadership of Sri Lanka as the Chair of Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha stated that Thailand looked forward to takeover of Chairmanship at the fourthcoming 5th BIMSTEC Summit and Ambassador Chaminda Colonne, assured Sri Lanka’s fullest support for Thailand’s future endavours in BIMSTEC.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha also conveyed his warm best wishes to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris.

Ambassador Chaminda Colonne also extended an invitation to Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient time with the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advisor to the Prime Minister Bansarn Bunnag, Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister Anucha Burapachaisri, Government Spokesperson Dr. Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, Director-General, Department of South Asian, Middle East and African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Darm Boontham of Thailand and the First Secretary Saritha Ranatunga of the Sri Lanka Embassy joined the discussion.