August 1, 2018, Lumbini:Nepal government has appointed Ven. Metteyya Sakyaputta (Abhadesh Kumar Tripathi) as the Vice Chairman and Mr. Bishnu Pd. Dhakal as the Member Secretary of Lumbini Development Trust. The Cabinet of Ministers decided the appointemnts on July 26, 2018 (2075/4/10 BS). Both of them have joined the office in the Head Office of the Trust in Lumbini. It is a second come back in the Trust for both the officials. Ven. Metteyya had served as Vice Chair shortly before whereas Mr. Dhakal had served as Project Chief of the Trust about a decade ago. The appointment of highly qualified and experienced officials in the Trust portrays Nepal Government’s seriousness in development of Greater Lumbini, promotion of Buddhism and implementation of delayed Lumbini Master Plan.  

Newly reappointed Vice Chair is a Buddhist monk and has been involved in promotion of Buddha's teachings in many ways. He is the founder of Karuna Girl's College Lumbini, Pragya Gurukul School Lumbini, Metta School Lumbini, Peace Grove Nunnery Lumbini and Bodhi Institute Lumbini where hundreds of notice, boys and girls receive formal as well as non-formal education. Many children are also receiving technical and nursing education with the sponsorship from Ven. Metta. The Vice Chair will serve as the guardian of in Trust and the representative of Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.      

New Member Secretary Bishnu Pd. Dhakal is taking office as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Trust. Member Secretary Dhakal is highly qualified and experienced career bureaucrat. He has served as a senior officer of Nepal government for more than three decades in different capacities. He has served as Local Development Officer (LDO) in about a dozen of districts of Nepal in different geographical location. He has also served as Chief District Officer (CDO) in Rupandehi, Kapilavastu and Palpa, the adjoining districts of Greater Lumbini.    

There is enough ground to hope for substantial positive change in Greater Lumbini with these recent appointments in the key position of Lumbini Development Trust.   

Newly appointed Vice Chairman and Member Secretary were welcomed in Lumbini by Lumbini Development Trust, Lumbini Tourism Service Society and local community. Treasurer Surendra Muni Sakya, Executive Board Members Mr. Rajesh Gyawali, Project Chief Er. Saroj Bhattarai, Chief Fluoreculturist Sabbir Khan, Information Chief Hari D. Rai had expressed their happiness to welcome the officials. The welcome program was organized in the chairmanship of Treasurer Shakya and conducted by procurement officer Nawal Yadhav.