
Sri Lanka-Thailand bilateral ties further strengthened
It was yet another significant milestone in Sri Lanka's Parliament on
Friday when Thailand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra who arrived in
Sri Lanka on a brief official visit addressed the Sri Lankan Parliament
at a special session. Her name would go down in the history as the
second Thai Prime Minister to address Sri Lanka's Parliament after the
address of her brother Dr. Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003, the then Prime
Minister of Thailand.
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa along with parliamentary officials accorded
a rousing reception to Premier Shinawatra at the Parliament complex. She
was conducted to the Chamber of Parliament complex by the Speaker. Later
she occupied a special seat beside the Chair when sittings commenced.
Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa who warmly welcomed the Thai Prime Minister
told the House that he was privileged to receive her to the special
parliamentary session, as one of the most dynamic and outstanding
leaders in South East Asia and first woman Prime Minister of Thailand.
The Speaker in his welcome address said that the Thai Premier's visit
and her address to Parliament would further strengthen Sri Lanka's
longstanding relationship with Thailand, which dated back to many
centuries ago. He said that both countries have a predominantly Buddhist
culture based on Theravada tradition.
He said Sri Lanka is also grateful to Thailand for the assistance
rendered to revive the pristine Buddhist practices at a time when
Buddhism suffered a decline in Sri Lanka. The Speaker appreciated
Thailand's assistance to Sri Lanka at international and regional fora,
particularly at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland.
The Speaker commended the steady growth of bilateral relations
between the two countries in recent years. Reciprocal visits such as
President Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to Thailand in 2012 had paved the
way for high level interaction between the State Leaders giving an
impetus to strengthen and consolidate the existing ties.
In concluding his welcome address the speaker called upon the Thai
Premier to address the House. She said that she was so exalted as to
address Parliament which was addressed by her brother 10 years ago as
the second Prime Minister of Thailand. She said it was a great pleasure
for her to be in Sri Lanka, the beautiful island nation at the opposite
end of the Bay of Bengal.
Although we are separated by the ocean, the two countries share a
common religious faith and cross cultural and political beliefs. Its a
privilege to address the elected representatives of the people of Sri
Lanka. Sri Lankans have always cherished their nation and the values of
democracy, Premier Shinawatra told the house. She said at a personal
level, she feels deeply honoured to address the same Parliament where
the world's first female Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike once led
her Government.
The most important aspect of Thai Premier's speech was that she
called upon the world to unite and make a concerted effort to preserve
democracy. She described democracy as the best form of government to
protect the rights and liberties of people and advance society's
interest. Democracy is something the world must join to preserve and
protect. She told the House that Thailand and Sri Lanka with their
experience and lessons learnt could contribute greatly to the
advancement of the democratic process.
The Thai Premier in her address also referred to the firm religious
and cultural ties between two countries. She said both countries
cherished the value of democracy and Buddha's teachings. Buddhism was
established in Thailand with the help of Sri Lanka some eight centuries
ago. A group of bhikkhus from Thailand performed higher ordination for
Sri Lankan bhikkhus about 260 years ago.
This eventually led to the setting up of the Siyam Maha Nikaya here
in this country. This makes our Buddhist link unique and this is the
reason why our people are so firmly connected. In this rapidly changing
world with cut-throat economic capitalism, political turmoil and social
disruption, we must work together to strengthen Buddhism as a religion
and a way of life, she said. She called upon the parliamentarians to
join this quest so that Buddhism could bring peace not only to the
individual mind but also to human community as a whole.
Premier Shinawatra in her closing remarks said that she wished to
express her appreciation of the warm hospitality extended to her and the
honour of addressing Sri Lankan Parliament. Thailand and Sri Lanka have
opened a bright chapter for the future. This modern partnership based on
shared values and shared interests will bring the best of friends
together for the peace and prosperity of our two nations, of our region
as a whole. It is a great honour to stand among the friendly members of
Parliament", she said.
Leader of the House and Irrigation and Water Management Minister
Nimal Siripala de Silva who proposed the vote of thanks said an address
by a foreign leader is a rare occasion in Sri Lanka's parliamentary
tradition. We are proud that the Thai Premier is among the esteemed
company. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher too addressed
the Sri Lanka Parliament in 1985 and she was the first foreign leader to
address a formal session of our Parliament.
Thereafter, incumbent Thai Premier's esteemed brother, former Prime
Minister of Thailand Thakshin Shinawatra addressed the House in 2003. It
is indeed a very significant coincidence and a great honour to Sri
Lanka's Parliament that Thailand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has
now become the third world leader to address this House, Minister De
Silva said.
During the past three decades, women have provided exceptional
leadership to the people of our region. Sri Lanka too can be boast of
such exceptional leaders. The late Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the
world's first Prime Minister following the assassination of her husband.
Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga was the first female President of Sri
Lanka. Premier Shinawatra too has joined the ranks of such outstanding
women leaders from our region which includes Prime Ministers Indira
Gandhi, Benazir Bhutto, Begum Khalida Shia and Sheikh Hasina, he said.
Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe in seconding the Motion said
that Sri Lanka and Thailand are unique as both are the only democracies
in the world where Theravada Buddhism is practised. Ties between two
nations are based on trade, religion and paddy cultivation.
Wickremesinghe said that Waskaduwa Sri Subhuti Vihara and
Deepaduttharamaya in Kotahena were testimony to the long-standing
religious links between the two nations.
He said that when he was the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, the then
Prime Minister of Thailand Thakshin Shinawatra addressed the Sri Lankan
Parliament. Recalling Thaksin Shinawatra's removal from office, the
Opposition Leader said they may have been thrown out of the office, but
none of them would be thrown out of the country. Democracy and people
will prevail.
After the Opposition Leader wound up his speech, the House was
adjourned until 1 pm on June 4. After the adjournment, the Speaker
invited the Thai Prime Minister, her delegation and Members of
Parliament for a special tea party at the Members' lounge.
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