Cannot accept role of ceremonial head: Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama has said he cannot accept the role of ceremonial head of state after a unanimous resolution passed by Tibetan parliament-in-exile in Dharamsala requested him to do so, a Tibetan administration spokesperson said today.

The Tibetan leader met all the 418 Tibetan delegates from across the world and told them that he cannot accept the role of a ceremonial head of state, the spokesperson said.

The Dalai Lama, however, said he will go through the report of the second Tibetan general body meeting which concluded yesterday.

The meeting had also endorsed a proposal to request the Tibetan leader to accept the inclusion of the new Preamble and responsibilities assigned to him in Article 1 if he does not wish to become the ceremonial head of state.

Meanwhile, Tibetan parliament-in-exile will hold a two-day additional special session from tomorrow to deliberate and approve the final recommendations made during the general meeting on the draft amendments.

Earlier, speaker of the Tibetan parliament-in-exile, Penpa Tsering said ,"If Dalai Lama refuses to accept the appeal of the second Tibetan general meeting then we will have to sit down and discuss ways to devolve the powers."