Dharamshala — Dr Lobsang Sangay will be sworn in as the Sikyong (political leader) of the Central Tibetan Administration, in the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, at an official function on May 27, 2016.
As per the Charter of Tibetans-in-Exile, the oath-taking ceremony will be held at 9:30am on Friday, at the central courtyard of the Tsuglagkhang, the main temple in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala.
The oath will be administered by Kagyu Dhondup, the Chief Justice Commissioner, in the presence of the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. "His Holiness the Dalai Lama has very kindly consented to grace the swearing-in ceremony with his presence," the Cabinet secretariat stated.
Dr Sangay is re-elected as the Sikyong for another five year term. Dr Sangay has got 33,876 votes (57.08 % of the total vote share) as against the 24,864 votes (41.89% of the total vote share) polled for Penpa Tsering, according to the CTA election commission.
Dr Sangay was elected in the third direct elections for the Kalon Tripa held in March 2011. He also became the first Tibetan to be elected as the Sikyong of the CTA after His Holiness the Dalai Lama devolved his political authority in 2011.
Following the devolution of his political authority to the democratically-elected Tibetan leadership in 2011, His Holiness the Dalai Lama had said he was handing over the political leadership he inherited to "Sikyong Lobsang Sangay."
"I took over the political leadership of Tibet from Sikyong Taktra Rinpoche, when I was 16 years old. Today, in the 21st century, when democracy is thriving, I hand over the political leadership of Tibet to Sikyong Lobsang Sangay," the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama had said.
Despite several round of talk between representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government, the deadlock remains over peaceful settlement of the Tibet issue even as His Holiness the Dalai Lama has maintained the middle path of seeking meaningful autonomy for Tibet within Chinese mainland.
