Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Thailand, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe, recently met with Thailand’s Minister of Social Development and Human Security, Varawut Silpa-archa, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Bangkok to discuss ongoing bilateral cooperation in social protection and human rights.
Ambassador Edirisinghe expressed her gratitude for Thailand’s support in implementing the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for victims of human trafficking, particularly in facilitating the rescue and repatriation of Sri Lankan nationals who had been trapped in cybercrime centres in Myanmar. She confirmed that all Sri Lankan victims have now been safely returned home.
The Ambassador extended the Sri Lankan Government’s deep appreciation to the Thai Government for its assistance and highlighted the exceptional support provided by Thai officials in both Mae Sot and Bangkok throughout the operation.
Minister Silpa-archa praised the close collaboration between the two nations and reaffirmed Thailand’s commitment to continue supporting Sri Lanka in future humanitarian efforts. He also acknowledged Sri Lanka’s active role in promoting mutual cooperation on human rights and social protection.
Both sides welcomed ongoing bilateral initiatives, particularly those focused on protecting the rights of women and children and increasing women’s representation in national legislatures and decision-making bodies.
The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between Sri Lanka and Thailand, built on shared regional values and a joint commitment to advancing human dignity and inclusive development. The discussion was also attended by A.W.S. Samanmali, Head of Chancery, and Vireshika Bandara, Minister Counsellor (Commercial).