KATHMANDU: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today thanked British actress Joanna Lumley for her contribution in ensuring the rights of thousands of Gurkha war veterans to settle in Britain. Lumley met the President and the Prime Minister separately at their offices today.

Lumley is on a weeklong visit to Nepal to take stock of Gurkha war veterans and their families living in Nepal. She said she was drawn to the cause because her father fought alongside Gurkha soldiers in World War II.

Earlier, Gurkha veterans had felicitated Lumley at the city hall for her invaluable contribution for the welfare of the Gurkha veterans. Upon being honoured, the 63-year-old actress and rights defender said she felt at home in Nepal.

“This is my first visit, but definitely not the last. It

gives me such an honour that I have been accepted

as a daughter of Nepal,”

said Lumley.

Meanwhile, she laid a wreath on a Gurkha soldiers’ memorial on the premises of the British Embassy. “Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had a country of faithful friends than you,” read the inscription on the memorial. Speaking to mediapersons, she said it was an emotional moment for her to lay the wreath on the memorial.

On the occasion, British ambassador to Nepal Andrew Hall said he was

delighted to see Lumley

in Nepal.