US-based Buddhist monks bring peace walk to Sri Lanka

Vietnamese Buddhist monk Bhikkhu Pannakara offers water to his pet dog Aloka, a stray rescued from India, at the start of the 'Walk For Peace' pilgrimage in Dambulla, in northcentral Sri Lanka on April 22, 2026.

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Saffron-robed Buddhist monks began a week-long peace walk across Sri Lanka on Wednesday, accompanied by a rescued stray dog that has become a celebrity in its own right.

Led by Vietnamese monk Pannakara, the group of 13 launched their march at dawn from a historic Buddhist temple in Dambulla, about 160 kilometres (100 miles) north of the capital Colombo.

Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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