Thailand and Sri Lanka have agreed to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation on religion, trade and investment, and education, Thai News Agency reported on Saturday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was visiting the South Asian island country, held talks with Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa on a variety of issues and closer cooperation between the two countries.

The Thai leader on Friday hailed the Sri Lankan government for its success in peace dialogues with separatist militants Tamil Eelam in the last few years.

Yingluck said the religious relationship between Thailand and Sri Lanka has been healthy, with educational exchange programs for Thai and Sri Lanka Buddhist monks and Buddhism-related tourism for pilgrimage.

On trade and investment, the two countries agreed to enhance bilateral investment and exchange business information for mutual benefits.

Rajapaksa invited Thai businessmen to invest in Sri Lanka, especially in infrastructure development projects, power generating, small and medium industries and production for export.

With regard to technical cooperation, the two leaders emphasised human resource development with exchange programs for educators, and development of school management and information technology for education.

Yingluck proposed measures to eliminate obstacles on aviation in order to connect Thailand with Asian countries and facilitate travels.

The two countries also have agreed to carry out multilateral cooperation on a regional and international basis under the frameworks of the World Trade Organization, United National Conference on Trade and Development, and Asia Cooperation Dialogue.

Yingluck and Rajapaksa witnessed the signing of some memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on, such as, visa exemption for diplomats and government officials, tourism cooperation, and science and technology cooperation.

Yingluck is scheduled to depart Colombo, Sri Lanka's capital, for her official visit to Maldives on Saturday, where she will meet with President Mohemmed Waheed Hassan. Endi

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