Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama who is on a official visit to Thailand called on Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej at Government House in Bangkok yesterday.

The Foreign Minister is making this official visit with a view to promote and strengthen the bilateral relationship which is founded on ancient cultural and religious links and today encompasses regional cooperation such as in BIMSTEC, ARF and ACD as well as bilateral economic, trade, agriculture, science & technology and tourism cooperation.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama conveyed to the Thai Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Defence, Sri Lanka’s appreciation of the current positive security and intelligence cooperation with Thailand on the basis of bilateral agreement. At the request of the Thai Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Bogollagama briefed on the LTTE terrorist organisation and its overseas fund raising and arms procurement and the need for constant vigilance to intercept illegal LTTE movements.

He also briefed on the liberation of the Eastern Province from the clutches of the LTTE and the recent elections which had successfully restored democracy there after twenty years, with an elected Tamil Chief Minister.

There was a discussion on the ancient cultural links between the two countries which had been nurtured at the highest levels. There was a need to finalize the Cultural Cooperation Agreement early and also the request for the donation of some tusker elephants for ancient viharas in Sri Lanka.

Foreign Minister and the Thai Prime Minister agreed on the need to further enhance overall trade volumes for mutual benefit and also to improve connectivity for increased tourism and people to people contacts.