A meeting of the Council of Ministers held today decided the country will also participate in the secretary-level meeting before the minister-level meeting.

A minister-level meeting is scheduled to be held in Maldives as part of the preparations to organise the 18th SAARC Summit in Nepal. 

Likewise, the Cabinet meeting also promoted Lieutenant Colonel of the Nepal Army, Yam Bahadur Adhikari, to the post of Colonel, said government spokesperson and Minister for Information and Communications Madhav Prasad Poudel.

The Maoist former combatants opting for integration into the Nepal Army were integrated in the national army under former UCPN (Maoist) division commander Adhikari's leadership. He is now posted at the Directorate of the National Development and Security. He was promoted as per the previous agreement.

Similarly, the meeting promoted NA Brigadier General, Ramindra Chhetri, to the post of honorary Major General.

The Cabinet also decided to sign an agreement equivalent to 30 million US dollars including loan and assistance to be provided by the Asian Development Bank for the Bagmati River Corridor Improvement Project, to provide assistance for and coordinate the Economic Summit Meeting going to be organised by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) next month and to implement the proposal related to operation of Banepa-based Information and Technology (IT) Park having it decided from the Economic Infrastructure Committee.

Likewise, the government decided to accept a World Bank assistance of Rs 271.1 millions for the urban poor re-production model programme.

The meeting approved the policy on public, festival and in lieu holidays for the year 2071 BS prepared by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The government has decided to change the name of the Armed Police Force (APF) Valley Battalion to Disaster Rescue Valley Battalion.

Minister Poudel said that today's Cabinet meeting also decided to forward the report on the Optional Protocol on the Rights of People with Disabilities to the Social Committee, to provide an assistance of Rs. 1.5 million to the women members of the Global Inclusive Women's Organisation, to hold discussions on the policy on the services and facilities at the residence of VIPs in the committee concerned, to reshuffle the posts under the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and to approve the Mediation Regulations, 2070.