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The 18th edition of Nepal-India military exercise with the aim of security and expansion of bilateral relations is beginning at Saljhandi in Rupandehi from Tuesday.

The battalion-level joint military exercise named 'Suryakiran' focuses on jungle warfare, counterterrorism in difficult geography, establishment of peace keeping mission as per UN Charter, humanitarian aid in disaster management and relief mobilization, internal capacity building, and environmental protection.

The two-week long training will be attended by Sri Jung Battalion of Nepali Army and the 11th Gorkha Rifle of Indian Army.

Spokesperson of Nepali Army, Gaurab Kumar KC, informed that the joint military training was expected to foster friendly relations and trust between Nepal and India and expand cultural relations as well. Professional collaboration will also be augmented with it.

The 17th edition of the joint exercise was held in Pithauragadh of India last year.

So far, the number of Nepali Army personnel attending the joint training reached 4,215 while the number from the Indian side stands at 4,442.

Such joint exercise had begun since 2067BS.

Former President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu on Saturday.

He is arriving in Kathmandu for his personal visit, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Krishna Prasad Dhakal said.

According to the ministry, necessary protocol and security arrangement would be provided for him as the former President.

He will have meetings and visits in his own way. The former President is also scheduled to visit Lumbini during his stay.

He is scheduled to return home on January 1 after completing his visit.

It may be noted that Nepal and Sri Lanka had established diplomatic relations on July 1, 1957.

Nepal opened an honorary consulate general in Colombo in 1975 and the Embassy of Nepal was established in Colombo in 1995.

Sri Lanka has a residential embassy in Kathmandu since 1993. Both Nepal and Sri Lanka are founding members of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and members of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).

The two countries share common views on many international issues at various forums, including the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the World Trade Organization.

Lumbini, the birthplace of Shakyamuni Buddha and a sacred destination for Buddhists around the world, attracts Buddhist pilgrims from Sri Lanka every year.

The Sri Lankan government is supporting Nepal's efforts to develop Lumbini as a source of world peace. Sri Lanka has also built a monastery and a rest house complex in Lumbini. ---

Minister for Home Affairs Ramesh Lekhak gas said that the acquisition of citizenship in accordance with the Constitution and laws would be eased.

The Home Minister said this while receiving the report submitted by the Citizenship Problem Resolution Study Committee at the Ministry in Singha Durbar on Friday. "Those people eligible for the citizenship as per the Constitution and the related laws should get the citizenship.

However, there should not be a situation in which ineligible people get the citizenship. We are explicit on these two things," he asserted.

Stating that the citizenship is a highly sensitive issue, Home Minister Lekhak said this topic should be considered seriously and in a responsible manner. "Citizenship should not be denied in the name of procedural hassles and the verdicts related to citizenship given by the Honourable Supreme Court from time to time should be respected.

Directives have been frequently issued in this connection. The government is moving ahead to resolve the problems seen in the acquisition of citizenship taking all these things into consideration," he added.

The Committee prepared its report with recommendations after studying the court verdicts, the existing legal provisions and the complications seen on the topic of citizenship distribution at various District Administration Offices.

Minister Lekhak said that the Ministry will minutely study the report and implement it. The report includes recommendations on various topics, including the topic of making issuance of citizenship to children born of mother holding the Nepali citizenship.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had formed the five-member Committee on August 16. Joint Secretary at the Ministry Dr Tok Raj Pandey was its convenor.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed grief over the demise of former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

"I would like to express heartfelt condolences on the demise of Manmohan Singh," the PM said. 

In a post on his Facebook wall today, PM Oli stated that he has recalled his talks with Dr Singh on the issues of Nepal-India mutual interests.

Former Indian PM Dr Singh, also a pioneer economist, died on Thursday. He was 92.