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โดยผมนั้นมุ่งให้เห็นที่เคยมีกันเมื่อเกือบสองพันปีก่อน

ขณะที่ Chedha Keawsakun

ก็ช่วยชี้ที่มีมากเมื่อพันปีที่แล้ว

โดยเฉพาะกับนครที่พวกเรารับจากลังกากันมาก

โดยตอนเริ่มแรก ท่านอดีตทูตลังกาประจำไทย

กรุณาเปิดเวทีดังนี้

Your Excellency Poj Harnpol, Ambassdor of Thailand

Excellencies

Dr Banchar Pongpanich

and Distinguished guests

On behalf of the Embassy of Thailand and the Geopolitical Cartographer as a collaborator, it is indeed a pleasure to extend a warm welcome to all of you, to this afternoon’s event entitled “Dialogue : Revisiting Southeast Asia Links : Suvarnabhumi Tambralinga and Thambapanni”. As we are all aware Dr. Banchar Pongpanich is a renowned Archeologist from Thailand. In his expose, Dr. Pongpanich will traverse the historical path linking Suvarnabhumi to Tambralinga and Thambapanni, based on his collection of beads from ancient times, and pitted against age- old archeological sites, to establish the nexus.

While the location of Suvarnabhumi has been of much debate, historically it has generally been identified as the Southeast Asian Kingdom stretching through Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia and even Sri Lanka. The archival trade routes through their ports, established this linkage, together with the claim of the first Buddhists in Southeast Asia, concretising this connection. Also, in history with, Tambralinga as the Kingdom of Thailand and the Kingdom of Thambapanni, as dubbed by Prince Vijaya centuries ago, being Sri Lanka, establishes the context for this dialogue. Sri Lanka’s relations with the Southeast Asian countries began developing centuries ago, with sovereign Kingdoms in the region.

The chosen perspective by Dr. Pongpanich has Sri Lanka Thai relations, through the annals of history as its core. This relationship has evidence of emphasis since the 13th century, which is well before modern times. The landscape of these relations is punctuated with material reminders of the past in the present, especially with the societies of the two countries being dominated by the adherence to the Buddhist philosophy, which has given rise to the sharing of similar archeological sites, in addition to the contemporary robust economic and political ties. With the Southwestern shoreline of Thailand meeting the Andaman Sea of the Indian Ocean, yet again, provides a close linkage, with a joint location narrative with Sri Lanka, coming to pass. These close links throughout history have been flourishing, and continues on this trajectory, presently.

The Geopolitical Cartographer, an international research foundation and think tank, chose to collaborate with the Thai Embassy on this event, in keeping with its aims, to promote the study, research and analysis of the geopolitical, geoeconomic and maritime developments in the Indian and Pacific oceans, and the connected landmarks, which are redrawing the global political order. Today’s historical frame of reference by Dr. Pongpanich, will be an added impetus to our Foundation’s work.

In fact delving into the past, 56 years ago, Sri Lanka was invited to be a member of ASEAN, in recognition of the close historical links with the Southeast Asian nations and perceived as a nation of that region. It is recalled that the signing of the ASEAN Declaration in Bangkok was kept open for an extra day, for Sri Lanka to come on board. For Sri Lanka to be a member of ASEAN was advocated by former President J. R. Jayewardene, Hon. President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s father and other influencers. As President Wickremesinghe remarked at the recent ASEAN Day celebrations, turning down the opportunity to join ASEAN led to a period of limited capital formations, thereby hindering the country’s growth potential.

However, in accordance with the Hon. President’s vision with a new policy approach of cooperating closely with the ASEAN and its member countries, has culminated in forging a free trade agreement with Singapore, and actively negotiating a similar instrument with Thailand. Additionally Sri Lanka has applied to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) being a trade block with the presence of ASEAN member countries. Undoubtedly historical linkages facilitate the consolidation of relations, as is apparent in the Sri Lanka/Thai relationship.

In conclusion, I wish to profusely thank His Excellency Ambassador Harnpol for his kind gesture of inviting the association of the Geographical Cartographer in this event. Now, let us sit back to listen to the erudite discourse of Dr. Pongpanich.

Thank You

๒๓ สิงหา ๖๖ ๒๑๐๐ น.

Colombo