Dharamsala: Speaker of 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Ven. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel had successfully concluded his Ladakh program of 3 days from Aug 24 to 26 as he returned to Dharamsala in the evening of Aug 27.
Upon reaching Ladakh early morning at 7 on Aug 24, Speaker Ven. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel was received and welcomed by the Chairman of Local Tibetan Assembly, President of Co-operative Societies as well as representatives of other organizations. Thereafter, he paid a courtesy call to with Mr. Dorjee Ngodup, Chief Executive Counselor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC).
On Aug 25, Speaker Ven. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel duly attended the inaugural ceremony of 18th Annual Conference of 15 Tibetan Cooperatives in India as per the invitation as its ‘Chief Guest’.
The conference began with the singing of Tibetan national anthem and thereafter, Chief Guest Speaker Ven. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel kindled the ceremonial butter lamp before the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Along with the Speaker of 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, the conference was also attended by its Guest of Honour Mr. Sonam Topgyal Khorlatsang, Home Kalon, Parliamentarian Mr. Peme Delek, President of Tibetan Co-operative Societies, Presidents of other non-governmental organizations as well as the Presidents and Secretaries of the 15 Tibetan Cooperative Societies.
Mr. Thupten Tsering commenced the conference with his welcome speech, followed by an introduction of the conference agendas by Parliamentarian Mr. Pema Delek. Thereafter, Home Kalon Mr. Sonam Topgyal Khorlatsang also addressed the participants. The inaugural ceremony of the conference was dismissed after the thank-you note by Mr. Topgyal Tsering, who succeeded after the speech of Speaker Ven. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel.
Speaker attended the shugmol meeting in the afternoon of the same day with the local authorities of Leh and Changathang. He addressed the meeting on the functioning of the Tibetan Parliament and also answered the questions posed to the Speaker. Coinciding with the presence of two other parliamentarians for their allocated settlement visitation program, Ven. Khenpo Jamphal Tenzin and Mrs. Samten Choedon also briefed the meeting with the agendas of their program.
In the evening, Speaker was invited to a working-dinner which was also graced with the presence of Sh. Purushottam Rupala, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Mr. Thupstan Chhewang, member of Lok Sabha and Mr. Dorjee Ngodup, Chief Executive counselor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC).
On the next day, Speaker along with Home Kalon Mr. Sonam Topgyal Khorlatsang, Parliamentarian Ven. Khenpo Jamphal Tenzin and Parliamentarian Mrs. Samten Choedon visited Pangong lake. In the same evening, a humble banquet was prepared by the office of Chief Representative, Ladakh, which was attended by Speaker Ven. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Mr. Thupstan Chhewang, member of Lok Sabha and Mr. Dorjee Ngodup, Chief Executive counselor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC).
With the conclusion of Ladakh program productively, Speaker left for Dharamsala via Jammu from Ladakh on Aug 27.
