China opposes Dalai Lama's proposed visit to Sri Lanka

'China opposes Dalai Lama's proposed visit to Sri Lanka'

China has expressed opposition to the proposed visit of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to Sri Lanka. China said on Tuesday that the island nation, which is facing economic problems, should protect bilateral relations.

An embassy statement said a top Chinese embassy official met powerful Buddhist clerics in the city of Kandy to express opposition to the visit. However, no date has yet been fixed for the Dalai Lama's visit to Sri Lanka.



In the statement, Ambassador-in-Charge Hu Wei said that the government and people of China, including the Tibet Autonomous Region, strongly oppose any other country hosting the Dalai Lama under any name. The embassy release said Sri Lanka should safeguard bilateral relations during the proposed visit of the Dalai Lama.



The Dalai Lama has been living in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959. Tibet's government-in-exile operates from India and over 1.60 lakh Tibetans live in the country.