Dalai Lama to be chosen in the way of lottery

Beijing, April 12: The replacement to the Dharamshala-based 14th Dalai Lama will be chosen in the traditional way of drawing lots from a sacred at the Jokhang monastery in Lhasa followed by the mandatory approval from the ruling Communist Party of China, Beijing has said.

"The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has lasted for centuries. All reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has followed the religious rituals and history rules," the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in written response to queries about the Dalai Lama's recent comments made in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.

Last week, the Dalai Lama had said it was up to the Tibetan people whether the "institution of Dalai Lama should continue or not" and that he wanted to start "some sort of preliminary discussion" on his succession this year.