Dharamshala: The ninth Session (budget session) of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile for the fiscal year 2025-2026 scheduled to be held from 17th to 31st March commenced today with the Speaker’s session commencement announcement at 9:30 am today.
Assembled with Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, Kalons and parliamentarians, the house continued with the singing of the Tibetan national anthem, followed by Speaker’s session opening speech and the appointment of Acting Speakers and Ad Hoc committee members.
Offering his prayers and prostrations to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Speaker began his opening address by greeting the Sikyong, Kalons, Deputy Speaker, and the Members of Parliament present. Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel spoke on the deteriorating situation in Tibet, particularly highlighting the Chinese restrictions on Tibetan students on 10th March 2025, Tibetan National Uprising Day. He also noted the release of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s latest book, Voice for the Voiceless, on 11th March 2025, which received widespread coverage from major global media outlets. The book also featured His Holiness’s statement that his reincarnation will be born outside of China, a declaration to which China responded with criticism.
Reiterating that reincarnation is a deeply religious process and cannot be manipulated as a political tool by China, the Speaker quoted a passage from the book: “To my fellow Tibetans: Never lose hope, however dark the sky may become. As our saying goes, ‘If you fall nine times, you get up nine.’ Always remember that a bright sun awaits behind the clouds.” He urged everyone to “Never Give Up!”
The house continued with official obituary references to former Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and former American President Jimmy Carter alias James Earl Carter Jr.
Followed by official obituary references to former Chief Justice Commissioner and former Deputy Speaker Jadur Sonam Sangpo, former Kalon Trisur (prime minister) Gyalo Thondup, former Kalon (minister) Shewo Lobsang Dhargyal, former parliamentarian Choeje Ayang Tulku Rinpoche, former parliamentarian Khortsa Sonam Damdul, and former parliamentarian Kyunglung Thokmey.
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, the incumbent Finance Kalon of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), presented the 2025-2026 Budget of the Central Tibetan Administration, proposing an amount of Rs. 3675.30 million.
Followed by Parliamentarian Geshe Lharampa Atuk Tseten, the Chairman of the Budget Estimate Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, presenting the Précis report of the Committee.
The motion for debate on the Central Tibetan Administration’s 2025-2026 Budget was tabled by Parliamentarian Geshe Atong Rinchen Gyaltsen and supported by Parliamentarian Tenzin Jigdal.
Thereafter, Parliamentarian Geshe Atong Rinchen Gyaltsen, Chair of the 12th Public Accounts Committee (PAC), presented the report of the committee.
Today the house welcomed German MP Anna- Elisabeth, Kate (member of Tibet Support Group from UK), and former parliamentary Secretary-General Tsering Dorjee as observers.
At 3 pm, the first day of the budget session adjourned until 9:30 am of the next day.
