The Royal Thai Embassy together with the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel organized a Thai Festival during 19-28 September 2019 at the courtyard in front of the Royal Thai restaurant within the compound of the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel. This year, the Embassy brought cultural artists and craftsmen to demonstrate and exhibit a variety of Thai arts, such as fruit carving, garland, etc.  A group of performers were also brought in to show various Thai dances. At the same time, the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel organized a daily Thai buffet dinner with over 100 dishes prepared by the Thai chef.

This year’s Thai Festival has attracted wide attention with an average of over 300 guests participated every evening. The event also gained wide publicity through local news media in Sri Lanka such as the Daily Ft newspaper http://www.ft.lk/dining/Thai-Food-Festival-with-90-at-Cinnamon-Lakeside/39-686517, the Daily News https://www.dailynews.lk/2019/09/09/tc/196304/thai-food-fest-cinnamon-lakeside, and the Daily Mirror http://www.life.lk/article/food/Thai-Food-Festival-Kicks-Off-at-Cinnamon-Lakeside-Colombo/30/18960.

At the conclusion of the Festival, the Embassy and the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel jointly donated a portion of the buffet revenue to Hermas Outreach Foundation in the amount of 100,000 Sri Lankan Rupees. The donation will contribute to the effort in assisting people affected by the terrorism incident in Negombo on 21 April 2019. Dr. Ravindra Ranasin received the donation on behalf of the Hermas Outreach Foundation from Mrs. Chulamanee Chartsuwan, Thai Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Mr. Rohan Fernandopulle, General Manager of the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel at a donation ceremony which took place on 27 September 2019 at the Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel.