On Wednesday, Gen. Prayut Chan-o-cha, the prime minister of Thailand and minister of defense, welcomed Dinesh Gunawardena, the prime minister of Sri Lanka, to the nation for an official visit.
On the occasion of his visit to the 18th United International Vesak Day on June 1-2, Gunawardena paid Gen. Prayut a courtesy visit.
Vesak Day celebrations are regularly coordinated between Thailand and Sri Lanka, reflecting the two nations’ strong ties, particularly their shared history of Buddhism that spans more than 700 years.
The Thai prime minister also praised Sri Lanka for its economic progress and pledged Thailand’s readiness to offer more support should Sri Lanka ask. He also complimented the Sri Lankan government for accepting the treatment-related return of “Plai Saksurin,” a male elephant that had been given to the Sri Lankan government 21 years earlier by its Thai counterpart.
The Thai prime minister was congratulated by the Sri Lankan premier for the gracious welcome and expressed delight at the opportunity to observe Vesak Day in Thailand.
