The government has denied Thai media reports which said that former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is poised to be appointed as an economic adviser to the Government of Sri Lanka. The Foreign Ministry said that these reports are baseless. The foreign Ministers of Thailand and Sri Lanka have also had a telephone discussion in the wake of the media reports.

The Government of Sri Lanka assures that such speculations will not in anyway affect the excellent bilateral relations that exist between Sri Lanka and Thailand. During a telephone conversation Thai Foreign Minister Mr. Kasit Piromya had with Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama yesterday, the latter assured that the Government of Sri Lanka greatly values the relationship with the government and the people of Thailand, and will not allow any room for jeopardising the warm relations that exist between the two countries. Both ministers also discussed ways of strengthening future cooperation.