Kathmandu, Jan 31  : Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Bimala Rai Paudyal is leaving for Sri Lanka on Thursday to participate in the 75th Independence Day programme of Sri Lanka.    

A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday decided

to approve her visit to Sri Lanka. This is her first foreign visit after assuming the post of Minister for Foreign Affairs.   

Minister Paudyal will participate as the Guest at the special ceremony to be organized in Colombo on the occasion of the 75th Independence Day of Sri Lanka, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.    

Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremasinghe has invited the Foreign Affairs Ministers and other special guests from South Asian nations to the special ceremony to be held in Colombo on February 3 and 4.    

Minister for Foreign Affairs Paudyal will hold high-level bilateral political meetings during her visit. She will hold high-level bilateral talks with the Sri Lankan President, Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister and her counterparts from India and the Maldives. She will hold the high-level meetings on Thursday and various sideline meetings on Friday.  

Foreign Affairs Minister Paudyal will attend the main ceremony on Saturday, the Ministry stated. She will return home on Sunday.