Kathmandu, May 9:

Special commemorative stamps marking the golden jubilee of the first ascent of Mt Manaslu and Mt Lhotse were released today.

Govind Prasad Pandey, secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation stamped the first cancellation mark on the postal stamps today.

The event was symbolically celebrated today although the actual celebration has been postponed to December owing to the recent political change in Nepal, said Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association.

The ‘Symbolic celebration of Mt Manaslu and Mt Lhotse’ was organised by NMA here today.

NMA has recommended the government to mark the events on December 11-13 coinciding with the International Mountain Day, Himalayan Travel Mart and Mountaineering and Tourism Conference 2006.