By Tenzin Dharpo
File photo: Phayul photo- Kunsang Gashon
DHARAMSHALA, Jan. 10: The Tibetan exiled leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has cancelled majority of his overseas schedules including a visit to the city of Raleigh in North Carolina, United States, sources said.
The Dalai Lama’s Secretary Tenzin Taklha in a letter to the Raleigh city mayor Nancy McFarlane stated, “It is with deep regret that I inform you of a change in His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s schedule, obliging him to cancel the majority of his travels abroad, including the United States of America.
“We understand that there are many plans already in place to support Raleigh’s Compassionate City designation, and His Holiness looks very much forward to support these wonderful initiatives.”
Mayor McFarlane responded with hope for the Tibetan leader’s visit to her city in 2019. She wrote that she and her city respects the, “decision to delay all visits to the United States until after 2018. We remain hopeful you will grace us with your presence at a future date and are committed to making such a visit an enriching experience with lasting benefits.”
While there is no reason for the cancellation of the trips, the Dalai Lama earlier during an interactive event with foreign students in November said that he was unable to recover quickly from the long flights especially to United States as he grows older. The Tibetan leader will be 83 in July.
In August this year, the octogenarian Tibetan leader cancelled his trip to Botswana in Africa citing exhaustion and his physician’s advice not to undertake long journeys.
