Royal Thai Embassy, Colombo, organized “Sri Lanka-Thailand: Two Nations, One Family” Photo Exhibition on 6-10 September 2013, at Harold Peiris Gallery, Lionel Wendt Art Centre, Colombo to celebrate 260th Anniversary of the Establishment of Siam Nikaya in Sri Lanka.

     His Excellency Mr. Poldej Worachat, Thai Ambassador to Sri Lanka, said in the opening ceremony that the photographs displayed in the exhibition reflect and remind of the long- standing religious ties between Thailand and Sri Lanka.

     The photographs displayed in the exhibition, are taken by Miss Jiratha Narapittayanart, a young freelance photographer from Bangkok. The photos which came from her journeys in Sri Lanka and Thailand, showcase the unbelievably close ties and similarity on Theraveda Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Thailand. This proves the longstanding bond between the two nations, when Siam (now known as Thailand) received Lankavamsa from Sri Lanka almost a thousand year ago and later returned her gratitude by assisting the establishment of Siam Nikaya in the Kandy Kingdom in 1573.

     The exhibition received positive response from the public. The opening ceremony was also attended by Mr. Karunatilaka Amunugama, Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs of Sri Lanka, Prof. J.B. Disanayaka, former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand and Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Friends of Thailand 2013, together with the diplomatic corps in Colombo and Sri Lankan art lovers. In addition, two English newspapers in Sri Lanka, 

the Island and the Sunday Times, also commended the exhibition.

     Given to the good feedbacks, the Embassy plans to hold the above-mentioned exhibition, which is sponsored by Lowepro, Sri Lankan Airlines, Jetwing Travels and Greenlanka Shipping, in other cities in Sri Lanka.