Following South Africa's refusal to grant him a visa, Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama has cancelled his proposed visit to attend the birthday celebrations of his fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
"Since the South African government seems to find it inconvenient, the Dalai Lama has decided to call off the visit," said a statement issued by his office.
The Dalai Lama had been invited by the Tutu Centre and the Mahatma Gandhi Trust to give public talks. He was also scheduled to receive the Mahatma Gandhi International Peace Prize during his visit from October 6 to 14. Two years ago also South Africa had denied him a visa.
Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Pempa Tsering, said the Chinese government was putting pressure on countries like S.Africa to stop Dalai Lama from visiting them.