Jan 30, Kathmandu: Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Bimala Rai Poudel is going to leave for Sri Lanka on Thursday to participate in the 75th Independence Day celebrations.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Monday approved the visit of Minister Paudel to Sri Lanka. This is her first foreign visit after becoming the foreign minister. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she will participate as a guest in the special ceremony to be held in Colombo on the occasion of Sri Lanka's 75th Independence Day.

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe has invited the foreign ministers of South Asian countries and other distinguished guests to a special ceremony to be held on the February 3 and 4. During the visit, Minister Paudel will hold a high-level bilateral political meeting.

She will hold high-level meetings with the President, Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, the Foreign Minister of India, and the Maldives. After the visit, she is scheduled to return to Nepal on Sunday.