Senior Executive, Marketing, Branding, Media and Communication MAC
Holdings (Private) Limited Suraj Wickramasinghe with Ambassador,
Wijayanthi Edirisinghe,
Thai Princess to attend event in November 16
Saliya Rupasinghe in Thailand
Bangkok: A set of Thailand doctors would be conducting over 100 Knee
surgeries at Kandy hospital from November 16 to 20, 2025,
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand will visit Sri Lanka and
participate in this event disclosed by the Ambassador of Sri Lanka to
the Kingdom of Thailand, Wijayanthi Edirisinghe to a team of Sri
Lankan Journalists during a media visit arranged by Thai Airways via
their General Sales Agent, Mac Holdings (Pvt) Ltd that the highlight
“This would be done free of charge with the participation of 30
doctors flying from Siriraj Hospital, the oldest and largest public
hospital in Bangkok, Thailand.” The Royal Thai Embassy will assist
with the event in Sri Lanka.
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn has made several visits to Sri Lanka,
including an official four-day visit in August 2013.
Sri Lanka is currently completing the necessary steps for ratification
of the FTA between the two countries. “
The Sri Lankan Government expects to finalize the ratification process
as soon as possible, recognizing the potential benefits of the FTA,
such as increased trade, economic growth, and improved diplomatic ties
between the two countries.”
She also disclosed that the evacuation of all 130 Sri Lankans who were
kept against their will in Myanmar has been completed, and no Sri
Lankans are remaining in those camps. “We worked with the
International Organization for Migration (IOM), authorities in
Thailand and Myanmar in this regard.”
“These Sri Lankans had been lured into Myanmar for employment, but
became victims of human trafficking and cybercriminal operations.”
She also said that Tourist arrivals from Thailand to Sri Lanka
gradually increased until 2019 and then decreased primarily due to the
adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are now increasing from
2022.
The number of tourists from Thailand increased in 2024, reaching 7,246 tourists.
The number of tourist arrivals from January to April 2025 was 3,467,
representing a 16.2% increase compared to 2024. This is a strong
indicator of continued growth, with numbers rapidly approaching the
levels seen before the pandemic in 2019.
She also thanked Thai Airways and Mac Holdings (Pvt) Ltd for actively
promoting Sri Lanka as a destination among Thai travellers.
The ambassador said that with Thailand imposing the ‘Free Visa
Arrival’ policy, one can observe more Sri Lankan arrivals to Thailand.
Most of their popular destinations are Bangkok, the Golden Temple, and
Pattaya.