The celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Thailand is being launched today, (20 November 2014). The two countries established formal diplomatic relations on 20 November 1955. Sri Lanka and Thailand have a long history of close religious, cultural and trade links fostered over several centuries.
Buddhism has played a pivotal and catalytic role over several hundred years in binding the two countries together, and relations have been further consolidated since the establishment of diplomatic relations. At present, the two countries enjoy strong and warm relations in a variety of spheres ranging from political and economic to religious and cultural, people-to-people contacts, as well as mutually beneficial cooperation in the regional and international fora.