DHARAMSHALA: Tibetan political leader Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay will be leaving for Washington, D.C. for an official visit from 10 – 19 June 2016.

During the visit, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) will present a citation to Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay to recognise and honour the democratic institution of the Central Tibetan Administration as envisioned by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In 2011, His Holiness the Dalai Lama devolved his political authority to a democratically elected political leader (Sikyong). NED is a prominent US non-profit organisation created to strengthen democratic institutions around the world.

The citation will be presented to Sikyong by Mr Martin Frost, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) on 15 June 2016. The citation features a framed copy of the US preamble on one side and an excerpt from the Central Tibetan Administration’s preamble on the other side.

A similar citation was earlier presented to Shri K R Narayanan, former President of India in September 1997.

Following the presentation, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay will address the gathering on the strength and viability of Tibetan democracy.

NED is also hosting His Holiness the Dalai Lama for a panel discussion at the ceremony. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will participate in a dialogue with four young democracy and human rights activists working in extremely difficult environments to advance those rights and principles.

Besides the NED event, Sikyong Dr Sangay will meet with dignitaries and senior officials of US governmental and non-governmental organisations during his visit.

Sikyong will return to Dharamshala on 19 June.