Kathmandu, June 30: Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta placed the cancellation marks at a function here today on first day covers for three kinds of commemorative postage stamps in the Visit Nepal series brought into use by the Postal Services Department and on commemorative envelopes brought out by Nepal Mountain-eering Association.

The Visit Nepal series stamps launched today depict Dakchhinkali temple, the Tsho Rolpa glacial lake and Mt Annapurna One and are of Rs l5, Rs l2 and Rs l8 denomination respectively.

One millions copies each of the four colour combination stamps printed at the government printing office of Austria have been issued

The stamps were designed by departmental artist Kanchha Kumar Karmacharya.

Speaking at the function, Minister Gupta said postage stamps are an effective medium for projecting before the world the invaluable treasures, cultural wealth and natural beauty of the country.

Expressing confidence that the stamps launched today would make a contribution to the development of tourism in Nepal, he lauded the role played by the Nepal Philatelic Society in connection with democracy.

He said that His Majesty’s Government would extend needed help for the organising a SAARC level international postage stamp exhibition in Nepal in February-March and also take initiative toward formulation of philatelic law.

Director general of the Department of Postal Services Mukunda Sharma Poudel said the department has been bringing out stamps in the Visit Nepal series every year.

Nepal Philatelic Society patron Omkar Prasad Gauchan, who was on the chair, said the department has been playing a leading role in bringing out Visit Nepal series stamps to project Nepal in the outside world.

Nepal Philatelic Society chairman Deepak Manandhar, Water and Power Commission director Jeevan Prasad Thangsuhang, Mountaineering Association general secretary Bhumi Lal Lama, and Dakchhinkali Area Ceremonies Committee chairman Gunja Man Singh also spoke on the occasion.