His Holiness the Dalai Lama Leaves for Japan and US visits[Thursday, 28 April 2011, 10:22 a.m.]

His Holiness the Dalai Lama presides over a special prayer service in Dharamsala for Tibetans suffering under China’s crackdown in Ngaba, northeastern Tibet on 27 April 2011.

DHARAMSHALA: His
Holiness will be in Japan from 28-29 April to preside over prayer
service on the customary 49th day of those died in the devastating
earthquake and tsunami that hit off the region’s east coast on 11
March. His Holiness will offer prayers to the deceased and solace to
those who survived the tragedy.The 11 March earthquake and
tsunami, which left a large swathe of Japan’s northeast in ruins,
killed at least 13,000 people, forced about 130,000 into shelters and
is estimated to have caused $300 billion (182 billion pounds) worth of
damage, according to Reuters news agency.His Holiness will
visit US from 1-14 May, during which he will give a series of public
talks on advocating secular ethics and participate in symposiums and
panel discussions on Buddhism, neuroscience and non-violence in
different universities. The symposiums and panel discussions will be
organised at University of California, Los Angeles, University of
Southern California, University of California Irvine, University of
Minnesota, Southern Methodist University and University of Arkansas. (click here for detail programme)His
Holiness will be honoured with the first-ever “Shine A Light on Human
Rights” Award from Amnesty International in recognition of His
Holiness’ lifelong commitment to social justice and human rights. His
Holiness will deliver a keynote address on Human Rights during the
award ceremony to be held at Carpenter Performing Art Center in
California on 4 May.