On 10 March 2016, during an official visit of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak along with Minister of Commerce and Minister of Industry a witnessed on the signing of three Memorandums of Understanding on Technical Cooperation.
Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, officially signed two Memorandums of Understanding between Thailand and Sri Lanka namely: the Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation between Thailand and Sri Lanka (signed by Chitranganee Wagiswara, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka) and Thailand – Sri Lanka in Tourism operating plan (signed by Mr. John Amaratunga, Minister of Tourism Development & Christian Religious Affairs of Sri Lanka). Additionally, Dr. Somchai Harnhirun, Director - General of Department of Industrial Promotion, Ministry of industry signed letter of Intent for promoting industrial development cooperation with Mr. Mahinda Jinasena, Chairman of the Industrial Development Board of Sri Lanka.
The Memorandum of Understanding on Technical Cooperation between Thailand and Sri Lanka is official document aimly to promote technical cooperation as a form of partnership in governmental and people level for both countries. It is an important mechanism to promote South - South cooperation and elevate Thailand’s role as a Donor Country as chairman of G-77. It is another channel to expand and strengthen relationship with other countries in South Asia region, and also to promote Thailand’s constructive role in international ties.
This memorandum of Understanding is working framework between TICA and Sri Lanka’s coordinating agencies in the area of human resource development and 5 - year project in 4 different fields, namely 1) Agricultural (Food technology) 2) Rural development (Development of One Village One Product, Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion) 3) Tourism management (Community based tourism, Tourism and Marketing Promotion) 4) Public health (HIV / AIDS Prevention, Drug Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation) and other fields that both sides mutually agreed, such as Protocol training, Capacity Building for Development Agency in ICT.