Noted Nepali actor Rajesh Hamal is visiting UK -- to promote series of events organised by the Samsara Nepal Finance Services UK-- calling upon Nepalese living in the UK to send money back home through banking channels rather than through ‘hundi.’

At a cultural programme organised at the Ealing Town Hall, London, on Wednesday evening, Hamal said he was so happy to be able to meet face-to-face hundreds of his fans thousands of miles away from Nepal.

Addressing to a packed audience, Hamal-- the Super Star of Nepali movie industry--  urged Nepalese to maintain what he called ‘Nepalipan’ wherever they lived. “Our culture and way of life distinguishes us from others. And, we must try our best to protect them,” he told a cheering crowd.

Nepalese ambassador to the UK, Dr Suresh Chandra Chalise, and directors of the Samsara Group felicitated Mr Hamal for his over two-decade-long service to the Nepali cine industry. He has acted in over 250 films over the last 22 years. Addressing the function, president of the Non-Resident Nepalese Association UK chapter, Kul Acharya, said remittance was the lifeblood of the Nepalese economy and that remittance sent only through the banking channel supports the Nepalese economy. He also lauded Samsara’s role in promoting remittance through the banking channel.

Director of Samsara UK, Raja Ram Giri, said since its inception in 2007, his company was in the forefront of channelling the hard-earned money of the Gurkha community and other members of the Nepali diaspora from UK to Nepal. He, however, said sending money through illegal channels like ‘hundi’ was still in practice in the UK and elsewhere and that it must be discouraged as it benefitted nobody except the middlemen involved. He also requested all to join hands to promote remittance through legal, banking channels from UK to Nepal.

Noted comedian, Dipak Raj Giri, Deepa Shree Niraula and Dipak Sharma from the popular Nepali tele-serial “Teeto Satya” entertained the audience. Noted singers Himal Sagar, Kranti Ale, Dipu Gurung, Bivek Shrestha and other artistes also performed in the programme.

“Samsara Saanjh” events are also being organised in Folkestone (on 14th April), at Plumstead, London (on  19th April) and in Reading (on 21st April). nepalnews.com