The government has decided to sack National Sports Council member secretary Ramesh Kumar Silwal.

A meeting of the Council of Ministers on Monday directed the Ministry of Youth and Sports to initiate the process to relieve him of the duty, said a minister who did not want to be named.

Silwal, appointed on July 2020 by the erstwhile KP Sharma Oli-led government for a four-year tenure, was picked through open competition. But the change in guard led to his sacking. He was fired on the allegation that his performance was unsatisfactory.

The ministry had reportedly sought clarification some two weeks ago, charging him with poor performance. Silwal was among the close confidants of former prime minister Oli. His sacking was widely anticipated following the appointment of Maheshwor Gahatraj, a CPN (Maoist Centre) leader, as the minister for youth and sports.

Silwal is credited with successfully hosting the sub-continental South Asian Games five months after his appointment in December 2020.

Silwal had been to the Maldives to attend the final of the SAFF Championship between Nepal and India, which Nepal lost 3-0. He was scheduled to return to Kathmandu on Monday evening and could not be reached for comment.