Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, May 7:

The Gorkhapatra daily celebrated its 105th anniversary here today. The day also marked the 43rd foundation of the Gorkhapatra corporation.

At a programme organised to mark the day, vice chairman of the Council of Ministers Dr Tulsi Giri said Gorkhapatra has been defending national interests whenever the nation has been in trouble. He said the Press has been playing a vital role in strengthening the Nepali nationality and monarchy.

Dr Giri urged all to carry out their duty with honesty “casting aside opinions”. He said all need to stand united against terrorism and corruption when the country is passing through difficult times.

Minister for Information and Communication Tanka Dhakal said Gorkhapatra was playing a vital role in consolidating nationality and democracy in the nation.

Dr Giri felicitated employees who had served the corporation for over 25 years presenting them with a gold medal each, while Dhakal felicitated employees who had served for more than 20 years giving them a silver medal each.

Minister Dhakal also felicitated Subha Raj Silpakar for securing the highest marks in the Bachelors degree in Journalism from the Tribhuvan University.

Joint-secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communications and chairman of the corporation, Sushil Ghimire, said Gorakhapatra should be more competitive to keep up its essence of historic importance. He gave away the Journalism Prize founded by

the Federation of Nepalese Journalists-Gorakhapatra unit to Ambar Mainali.

Talking about the corporation’s activities and plans, general manager Gyan Man Malla said

the corporation is working to construct a commercial complex. He also said government offices owe some Rs 20 million to the corporation for advertisements.