“Ehipassiko” peace walk delegation departs Sri Lanka…

The group of Buddhist monks and participants who concluded the seven-day “Ehipassiko” peace walk in Sri Lanka departed the island on Wednesday (29). The delegation, led by Venerable Pannakara Thero, a Vietnamese monk based in the United States, left the BIA at 7:12 a.m. for Istanbul, Turkey. They are scheduled to proceed to the United States on a connecting flight. The group included monks, lay participants and a dog named “Aloka.” They arrived at the airport’s VIP lounge, where alms were offered. Airport staff from several divisions were also present to receive blessings. The state closing ceremony of the “Ehipassiko” peace walk was held on Tuesday (28) at Independence Square, Colombo, under the patronage of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.