Dalai Lama not to attend Nelson Mandela's funeral ceremony

DHARAMSHALA: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama will not attend the funeral ceremony of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela in South Africa where he has been denied visa.

The Dalai Lama, who is currently away for a winter sojourn, has no plans to attend the ceremony and he has also not applied for visa clearance, joint secretary at the Lama's office, Tenzin Taklha confirmed on Monday.

The Tibetan leader was denied visa to travel to South Africa in 2009. The South African government admitted the decision was taken to avoid undermining relations with China, which reacts angrily to any country hosting the Dalai Lama.

The secretary said Dalai Lama had written to the family of Mandela expressing deep sadness.

The Tibetan leader said he will personally miss the South African leader, who he had hoped to meet again and for whom he had great admiration and respect.

Reports said over 100 world leaders would be joining the 80,000 people expected to cram into the FNB stadium in Soweto on Tuesday for a sweeping, emotional tribute to their inspirational first black president.