CPN (UML) lawmaker Prem Prasad Dangal on Wednesday asked proposed Nepali Ambassador to Sri Lanka Dr. Manjulakumari Jha to outline an action plan for advancing Nepal-Sri Lanka relations, addressing visa problems faced by Nepali tourists and exploring opportunities to expand air flights. The questions were raised in Kathmandu as Dangal sought details of what Jha would pursue if appointed to the diplomatic post.
Questions on bilateral relations and tourism
Dangal’s request centred on practical priorities for Nepal’s engagement with Sri Lanka. He asked Jha what plans she had for diplomatic relations between the two countries, as well as what steps could be taken to make travel easier for Nepali visitors. The queries linked broader bilateral ties with specific concerns about movement between the countries.
The proposed ambassador was also asked about visa facilitation for Nepali tourists. Dangal sought to know what action could be taken to address the visa problems they face. The question put the travel issue directly to the nominee, calling for an explanation of the steps she might pursue rather than limiting the discussion to general statements about relations.
The summary of the exchange does not specify the nature of the visa difficulties, how many travellers have encountered them, or what changes Jha proposed. It also does not report a specific timetable or a policy decision. The focus, as set out in Dangal’s questions, was on whether the nominee had a plan to improve facilitation for Nepali tourists travelling to Sri Lanka.
Air connectivity also raised
Dangal asked about the possibility of expanding air flights between Nepal and Sri Lanka. The question placed air connectivity alongside diplomatic engagement and visa access as an issue for the proposed envoy to address. He sought to learn what plans existed for flight expansion, although the information provided does not detail any proposed routes, additional services or agreements.
Taken together, the questions asked Jha to address three related areas: the direction of bilateral diplomacy, practical travel arrangements for Nepali tourists and the scope for more air services. Dangal’s request was for an action plan covering these matters. The exchange therefore focused on the intended priorities of the nominee and on what she might work toward in the ambassadorial role.
No plan details reported
No response from Jha, specific commitments, or further details of a proposed programme are included in the available account of the questions. Nor does the account say that any visa or flight changes have been approved. The issues were raised as matters for the proposed ambassador to address, and the request for a plan should not be taken as confirmation that a policy change or expansion of flights is already under way.
The discussion places the concerns of Nepali tourists within a wider conversation about Nepal-Sri Lanka relations. Dangal asked the nominee to explain how she would approach both the diplomatic relationship and the practical obstacles and connectivity questions connected with travel. Further information about Jha’s responses or any follow-up action was not provided.
