Suryodaya becomes diplomats’ destination of choice

By Prem Adhikari,Ilam (Pashupatinagar), Dec. 16: Ambassador of Australia to Nepal Felicity Volk came to Suryodaya Municipality of Ilam a few days ago.  She went to the famous tourist spot of Antu and observed the sunrise. She also donned traditional Nepali attire and took photographs.

In a programme held at Suryodaya Municipality, Ambassador Volk expressed her desire to become a goodwill ambassador to promote tourism in Ilam. “I have visited many districts during my stay in Nepal, but have found no other place as beautiful as this. If needed, I will work as a tourism ambassador,” she expressed.

However, the ambassador urged all to be mindful of the environment when promoting tourism and said that only a conserved environment attracted visitors. Volk told Suryodaya Mayor Rana Bahadur Rai that Australia was always ready to support the municipality’s economic and social development.

The envoy also called the municipality a model child-friendly local level and shared her willingness to collaborate on projects to eliminate gender-based violence.  Volk was in Suryodaya to attend a programme organised by Shakti Samuha, a non-governmental organisation run by the survivors of human trafficking.

Ambassadors’ destination of choice

Suryodaya Municipality has always attracted domestic and foreign tourists. But now, it is also attracting ambassadors. 

Since November 17, diplomats from three countries – Australian Ambassador Volk, Japanese Ambassador Kikuta Yutaka and Swiss Ambassador Dr. Danielle Meuwly – have visited the municipality and expressed interest in cooperating with it on various issues.

Switzerland’s Meuwly came here to inaugurate a small inauguration project brought into operation with Swiss support and Japan’s Kikuta arrived to inaugurate a birth centre built with Japanese assistance.

‘Let’s exchange good practices’

Meanwhile, inaugurating a two-day event organised in Damak, Jhapa under the Australia-supported programme to strengthen local governments on Thursday, Volk asked local governments to exchange good practices among themselves, saying that it would help establish good governance.