BIHARSHARIF: Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and Sri Lankan president Maithripala Srisena are expected to inaugurate the three-day International Buddhist Conclave being jointly organized by Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (NNM), a deemed university near the Nalanda University ruins, and Union ministry of culture at Rajgir’s International Convention Centre (RICC) on March 17, said Nalanda DM Thiyagarajan SM on Wednesday.

NNM media in-charge Srikant Singh said President Pranab Mukherjee may attend the closing function on March 19. Bihar governor Ram Nath Kovind, chief minister Nitish Kumar and several central and state ministers are expected to attend the conclave, said Singh.

He said over 150 monks from southeast Asian countries and hundreds of delegates from across the world are expected to participate in the conclave. Grammy Award winner guitarist Niladri Kumar, noted Kathak dancer Sovana Narayan and over 100 folk artists are also expected to perform during the first two days of the conclave.

The DM has cancelled the leave of all the district officials and ordered them to remain at the district headquarters even on the coming Sunday in the wake of Holi and preparations for the conclave.

