Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to visit Iraq

NEW DELHI: Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will visit Iraq on May 22 to meet Sunni and Shia leaders, government officials and opposition leaders to strengthen peace in that country.

Ravi Shankar will first travel to Jordan during his three-day visit and meet King Abdullah and Queen Rania Al Abdullah.

He will then go to Iraq where he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Nouri al Malaki.

"He is visiting the conflict-ravaged country as an ambassador of peace on the invitation of Iraqi prime minister. He will hold discussions on restoring peace in Iraq with the prime minister," Sangeeta G Anand, media coordinator of the Art of Living.

On May 23, he will address a public gathering in Iraq, which will be attended by leaders from all the political parties and Shia and Sunni leaders.

The spiritual guru's two foundation -- the Art of Living and the International Association for Human Values --has been working in Iraq since 2003.

The Art of Living has also initiated a women empowerment project under which local women are given vocational training like tailoring and computer skills.

On the last day of his visit, he will visit the Art of Living Centre in Baghdad, which has been operational since 2003.