Bangkok, June 1 : Thailand and Sri Lanka have agreed to expand bilateral and multilateral cooperation on religion, trade and investment, and education, Xinhua reported Saturday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra held talks with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on a variety of issues in Colombo, it said.

The Thai leader Friday hailed the Sri Lankan government for its success vis-a-vis Tamil separatists.

Yingluck said the "religious relationship" between Thailand and Sri Lanka had been healthy, with educational exchange programmes for Thai and Sri Lankan 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 benefit.

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

The two leaders emphasised human resource development with exchange programmes for educators, and development of school management and IT 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, UN Conference on Trade and Development, and Asia Cooperation Dialogue.

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

Yingluck is scheduled to depart Colombo for the Maldives where she will meet with President Mohemmed Waheed Hassan.(IANS)