Sri Lanka envoy nominee withdraws name

KATHMANDU: Ram Krishna Bhattarai, who was nominated as Nepal’s ambassador to Sri Lanka, has withdrawn his name.

The Parliamentary Hearing Committee (PHC), which is conducting hearings for 17 ambassadorial nominees, including Bhattarai, has already endorsed 16 nominees for vacant positions in Nepali diplomatic missions. However, the committee had not decided on Bhattarai’s nomination as his academic certificate was missing.

According to the Directives for Ambassador Appointment, ambassador nominees must have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree.

Bhattarai was recommended for the position from the quota allocated to the Nepali Congress.

“Bhattarai has sent a letter to the PHC expressing his willingness to withdraw his candidacy,” a PHC member said.

The PHC had failed to take a decision on Bhattarai’s nomination on Sunday and Monday due to a lack of quorum.