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.