| Colombo - The
exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, said today he and
a congregation of monks and nuns would pray for the thousands of people
killed in Buddhist Sri Lanka by tsunamis.
"I am especially very saddened
by the great loss of lives and devastation that has taken place
in Sri Lanka," the 69-year-old spiritual leader said in a message
to President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Sri Lanka has consistently rejected
requests to issue the Dalai Lama a visa to visit the island and
worship at two of Buddhism's holiest sites in the island.
Buddhist leaders have said Sri Lanka
is the only Buddhist nation that has barred the Dalai Lama.
Pressure from China, which accuses
the Dalai Lama of being a separatist, is said to be responsible
for Colombo's stance.
"As is our tradition we are organising
a special offering of prayers by a congregation of monks and nuns
both for those who have lost their lives and those who are bereaved,"
the Dalai Lama said. [AFP/NEWS.COM.AU]
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