On 28 March 2017, Ms. Natnapang Damrongsoontornchai, Chargé d'Affaires, the Royal Thai Embassy in Colombo, presented a donation at the amount of 50,000 Thai baht (approximately 208,333 Sri Lankan rupees) to Venerable Phrakhrukhantisaranukul, a Thai monk resident in Jayasekhararama Temple, to support the renovation of the Dhammananda Dhammawansa Maha Raja Mangala Commemoration Building – a multipurpose building of the Jayasekhararama Temple, which has been used for organising religious ceremonies by the Thai community and Buddhists in Sri Lanka.

The Jayasekhararama Temple is an old sacred place in Colombo. The former Chief Incumbent was the Maha Nayaka of Amarapura Nikaya of Sri Lanka, who has close relationship with Thailand and has promoted cooperation with Thai monks, including an exchange of visit between the monks of the two countries during the past 4 decades. The Buddhists from Thailand have raised and donated money to the Temple for constructing the four-storey multipurpose building, which is titled “Dhammananda Dhammawansa Maha Raja Mangala Commemoration Building”. The construction of the building was completed in 2005 and it has been used by the Buddhist visitors and monks for performing religious ceremonies and accommodation. The said building therefore serves as a memorial venue, which symbolizes close Buddhist relations between Thailand and Sri Lanka.

At present, Venerable Phrakhrukhantisaranukul is the only Thai monk, who resides in the “Dhammananda Dhammawansa Maha Raja Mangala Commemoration Building”of the Jayasekhararama Temple and also looks after the building, as well as organises religious ceremonies on various important Buddhist occasions.

The financial contribution from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand to the Buddhist community in Sri Lanka is a part of Thailand’s efforts in implementing the cultural diplomacy in Sri Lanka through promoting people-to-people engagement which helps foster friendship and sustainable cooperation between the peoples of Thailand and Sri Lanka.