Number of officials to attend VVIP farewells and welcomes slashed

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Dec. 3: The security management protocol for highly distinguished persons and other prominent individuals has been amended under the initiative of Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak.

The government arranged such provisions by undertaking the first amendment to the 'Security Management Procedure-2080.'

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the first amendment to this protocol, approved by the Council of Ministers, was formally implemented on Monday morning, following Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's visit to China.

According to the Ministry's information officer and Under Secretary Dil Kumar Tamang, the number of officials attending the farewell and welcome ceremonies at the international airport’s VIP lounge when the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister go abroad or return has been reduced.

"While the presence of officials at the airport during VVIP foreign visits has been in practice for a long time, the proposal to reduce the number of officials to attend was approved by the Cabinet four days ago in the first amendment to the procedures," Tamang said. 

"The amendment has been made to make the welcome and farewell process more organised and effective," he said.

According to the revised procedure, when the President travels abroad or returns home, 14 officials, including the Vice President, Prime Minister, and Home Minister, must be present. Previously, 23 officials, including the Vice President, were required to attend during such occasions.

"The amendment has been made to streamline the reception and farewell procedures for VVIPs and other dignitaries during their foreign trips," Tamang said. "This is the first amendment to the Security Management Procedure-2080."

Similarly, the number of officials escorting the President from the VVIP lounge to the mini motorcade at the international airport has also been reduced. Previously, 13 officials, including the Vice President, would attend, but this number has now been reduced to nine.

According to the new procedure, when the Vice President travels abroad or returns, the number of officials required to attend at the airport, including the Prime Minister, has been reduced from 12 to seven.

Additionally, the number of officials in the mini motorcade, from the VVIP lounge to the aircraft, has been reduced from seven to four. These four officials will include the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, the Secretary of the Vice President’s Office, and the Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Similarly, under the revised procedure, when the Prime Minister travels abroad or returns, 12 officials, including the Acting Prime Minister, will be required to attend at the airport. Previously, 21 officials, including the Acting Prime Minister and the Chief District Officer, were required to attend the VVIP lounge.

Only Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh and Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak were present to bid adieu to the Prime Minister at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday morning. Urban Development Minister Singh reached the airport in capacity of Acting Prime Minister.

The number of officials accompanying the Prime Minister in the mini motorcade from the VVIP lounge to the aircraft has also been reduced from 11 to six under the new procedure.

Under the new procedure, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the National Assembly will no longer need to be at the airport during the President's and Prime Minister's foreign visits. Previously, the Speaker and the Chairman were required to attend when the President and Prime Minister traveled abroad or returned.