The group of Buddhist monks who concluded the seven-day “Ehipassiko” peace walk in Sri Lanka departed the island this morning (29).

The delegation, led by Venerable Pannakara Thero, a Vietnamese monk based in the United States, left Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) at 7:12 a.m. bound for Istanbul, Turkey, and is scheduled to continue to the United States on a connecting flight.

The group comprised monks, lay participants, and a dog named “Aloka.” They arrived at the airport’s VIP lounge early this morning, where alms were offered. Airport staff from several divisions were also present and received blessings from the delegation.

Officials, including veterinary officers, airport police, and Sri Lanka Air Force personnel, paid special attention to the dog’s health condition during departure procedures.

The state closing ceremony of the “Ehipassiko” peace walk was held yesterday (28) at Independence Square in Colombo under the patronage of Anura Kumara Dissanayake.