His Holiness’ visit to Raleigh off, majority of travels abroad in 2018 shelved
By Lobsang Tenchoe
DHARAMSALA, Jan 10: His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s planned visit to Raleigh stands cancelled now as majority of the Tibetan spiritual leader’s travels abroad in 2018 were shelved.
“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,” Tenzin Talklha, the Dalai Lama’s secretary, said in a missive to Nancy McFarlane, the Mayor of Raleigh, North Carolina.
Mayor Nancy McFarlane is reported to have invited the Tibetan Nobel laureate to Raleigh when she visited India early last year.
The Dalai Lama initially planned to visit Raleigh in October 2017, but it was later rescheduled to April this year owing to scheduling conflicts. But the planned visit to Raleigh stands cancelled now.
His Holiness has appreciated the region’s scientific and health care research in the past and his Secretary has stated that His Holiness looks very much forward to support these wonderful initiatives.
Mayor Nancy McFarlane was disappointed over the development but remains optimistic that the Tibetan spiritual leader may visit the city next year.
“We are all disappointed, but like I said, we are going to stay in touch, and hopefully, if he decides to change his plans or come in ’19, we hope we are first on the list,” the Mayor was quoted as saying in media reports.
