Kathmandu, Nov. 18: A meeting of the Council of Ministers held this morning has announced today a public holiday to mourn the demise of the former speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) Daman Nath Dhungana.

The meeting also decided to perform Dhungana’s last rites with state honors, on Monday.

Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung said that the government decided to cremate former Speaker Daman Nath Dhungana with state honors and to grant a public holiday today.

“A meeting of the Council of Ministers has decided to give a public holiday today and to hoist the national flag at half-mast in all offices at home and abroad today”, said Government spokesperson Gurung, “The responsibility of managing the state honor has been given to the Ministry of Home Affairs.”