Kathmandu, June 6:

Former South African President Dr Nelson Mandela was yesterday honoured with the ‘Dr Dilli Raman Regmi International Peace Award 2006.’

According to a statement issued here by the Dr Dilli Raman Regmi Foundation (DDRF), a Nepali delegation led by the chairman of the foundation, Dr Bishnu Hari Nepal and member Prof Dr Krishna Bahadur Thapa, presented the award at a function at the Nelson Mandela Foundation’s (NMF) head Office in South Africa.

“Due to poor health, Mandela assigned the chief of the NMF, Achmat Dangor, to receive the award on his behalf,” the statement said.

The award — a golden plate with popular Nepali peacock wooden frame — had signatures of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Education Minister Pradip Nepal and the DDRF chairman. A letter of felicitation from the Minister of Foreign Affairs Sahana Pradhan was also given to him.

A painting with a typical Nepali wooden frame weighing 23kg and a Bhaktapure Dariwal cap, specially made for Mandela were also given to the South African statesman.

The statemenet added that the DDRF has decided to confer the award for 2007 on Mahatma Gandhi posthumously.