Sri Lanka-Thailand Dialogue and University of Colombo Visit

The Sri Lanka-Thailand Dialogue held at Siam Nivasa, Colombo, on 29 August 2025, brought together diplomats and academics to mark 70 years of friendship between the two nations. The Dialogue was enriched by the presence of three distinguished ambassadors, H.E. Paitoon Mahapannaporn, Ambassador of Thailand to Sri Lanka Ambassador, Ambassador Chulamanee Chartsuwan, former Ambassador of Thailand to Sri Lanka (2016–2020); and Ambassador Poj Harnpol, former Ambassador of Thailand to Sri Lanka (2020–2023).

Academic expertise came from leading institutions, including the University of Colombo, University of Kelaniya, Open university of Sri Lanka, Ubon Ratchathani University, Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, reflecting the strong scholarly engagement between the two countries.

From the University of Colombo, Dr. Pavithra Jayawardena, Head of the Department of International Relations, Professor S. Chaminda Padmakumara, and Professor Maneesha Wanasinghe-Pasqual actively contributed to the discussions, emphasizing shared histories, cooperation in the blue economy, and the evolving regional geopolitical landscape.

Following the Dialogue, the Thai delegation visited the University of Colombo, where they were welcomed by the Vice Chancellor. The delegation then proceeded to the Department of International Relations, meeting at the Faculty Board Room of the Faculty of Arts. Here, all lecturers of the Department of International Relations joined the discussion, engaging in a fruitful exchange of views on academic collaboration, research linkages, and strengthening people-to-people ties between Sri Lanka and Thailand.

This engagement not only reinforced the diplomatic and cultural bonds but also created meaningful pathways for academic partnerships, ensuring that the friendship between the two nations continues to thrive in both policy and scholarly domains.