Foreign Minister Marapana attends Thai royal cremation

Foreign Minister Tilak Marapana on Thursday attended the royal cremation of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej in Bangkok who passed away in October last year. The Minister, accompanied by his wife Stella Marapana, attended the ceremony as a special envoy of President Maithripala Sirisena, who had paid his personal respects to the King last year.

The cremation ceremony was led by King Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun and the rest of the Thai royal family. Marpana attended the event together with forty-one other foreign dignitaries, including representation from some of the monarchies around the world and governments at the highest levels. 

The ceremony began in the early hours of the morning with the Thai people lining the streets to pay their respects as the royal procession conveying the remains of the late king was ceremonially conducted to the royal crematorium. The formal cremation proceedings commenced later in the evening.  

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, together with the other visiting foreign dignitaries, senior Thai government officials, members of the diplomatic corps laid sandalwood flowers at the top of the crematorium, as a demonstration of respect to the late king. As the Special Envoy of President Sirisena, the Minister was also granted an audience with King Vajiralongkorn as well as the royal family on the conclusion of the cremation ceremony. On this occasion, Minister Marapana reiterated the condolences of President Sirisena, and that of the government and people of Sri Lanka.