Lankan Ambassador to Thailand takes up regional security issues with Thai authorities

Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Thailand, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe recently met Thai National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Chatchai Bangchuad and discussed strengthening collaboration on regional security challenges, according to a statement from the Sri Lanka Embassy in Bangkok.

The meeting centred on enhancing bilateral cooperation to address mutual security concerns, including national defence, combatting human trafficking, and tackling transboundary security threats that pose significant risks to the region. Both sides stressed the importance of bolstering interaction between their respective security apparatuses to reinforce these efforts.

Ambassador Edirisinghe highlighted the need to deepen defence cooperation and advocated for knowledge-sharing initiatives on national security policy development. She also emphasised the value of capacity-building programmes and expertise exchanges to support Sri Lanka in formulating robust security policies and frameworks.

In response, Secretary-General Chatchai Bangchuad reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to enhancing ties with Sri Lanka and pledged support in critical areas. He particularly underscored Thailand’s readiness to assist in combating human trafficking, with a focus on rescue operations linked to cybercrime centres in Myanmar, which are emerging as a growing regional threat.

The NSC, operating under Thailand’s Office of the Prime Minister, plays a pivotal role in coordinating the country’s security and defence strategies. Ambassador Edirisinghe lauded the NSC’s contributions to advancing national security and expressed Sri Lanka’s keen interest in learning from Thailand’s policy development and implementation experience.

This high-level dialogue signifies another step forward in the historic partnership between Sri Lanka and Thailand through common Buddhist bonds. Both nations reiterated their shared commitment to regional stability and security, vowing to work together to address pressing challenges and promote peace and prosperity in the region.