Foreign Ministry defends handling of Thai Deputy PM’s visit amid UNP criticism
By The Pulseline News Desk
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has defended its handling of Thai Deputy Prime Minister (PM) Suphajee Suthumpun’s recent visit to Sri Lanka, clarifying that she travelled in a private capacity to attend a religious ceremony at the Mihintale temple.
The clarification follows criticism by the United National Party (UNP), which accused the Government of failing to provide appropriate diplomatic courtesies and security arrangements for the visiting Thai leader.
Foreign Ministry Director General and Spokesperson Thushara Rodrigo has said Suthumpun’s visit was exclusively for participation in the enshrinement ceremony, with no other officials accompanying her delegation.
He has said the Thai Embassy had requested access to the VIP lounge and other courtesies, and that the Sri Lankan authorities had granted those requests.
Rodrigo has also noted that the Thai Deputy Prime Minister had visited Sri Lanka on similar occasions in the past in her private capacity to participate in religious activities.
However, the UNP has questioned whether the arrangements made for the visit adequately reflected the diplomatic sensitivities involved, particularly given the longstanding religious and cultural ties between Sri Lanka and Thailand.
In a statement, the party has said Suthumpun had attended the ceremony to unveil the pinnacle of the Mihindu Maha Seya in Mihintale as the chief guest in her capacity as Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister.
Describing the occasion as an important event in Sri Lanka’s Buddhist religious calendar, the UNP has argued that visiting foreign leaders should receive appropriate courtesies and security arrangements regardless of whether their visits are classified as official or private.
The party has cited former British Prime Minister David Cameron’s previous private visit to Sri Lanka, during which special security arrangements had reportedly been provided despite his having left office.
The UNP has also highlighted Thailand’s contribution to the Mihintale ceremony, particularly its role in bringing the sacred pinnacle and the Chuda Manikya to Sri Lanka.
Against this backdrop, the party has called on the Minister of Buddhasasana and Religious Affairs to explain the circumstances surrounding the arrangements for Suthumpun’s visit.
The dispute has brought diplomatic protocol, the treatment of visiting foreign dignitaries and Sri Lanka’s longstanding Buddhist ties with Thailand into focus.
While the Foreign Ministry maintains that the requests made by the Thai Embassy were accommodated, the UNP has called for further clarification, arguing that the Government should ensure that visiting leaders are treated with due respect and consideration.
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