News
Plans for an ‘Aloka the Peace Dog Foundation’
View(s):By Kaveesha Fernando
He has walked thousands of kilometres in the freezing cold of the United States and the burning heat of Sri Lanka. Following the just concluded Walk for Peace in Sri Lanka, ‘Aloka the Peace Dog’, the Walk’s endearing mascot, is a celebrity today with 1.1 million followers on Facebook and over 440K followers on Instagram.
Only time will tell if Aloka will become an enduring legend like Hachiko from Japan (who waited faithfully at the Shibuya station in Tokyo daily for his owner Hidesaburō Ueno for about a decade after Hidesaburō’s passing) and Laika from Russia (the first dog in space).
These dogs inspired movies, books and even statues – their fame still continuing long after their time.
A street dog from India, Aloka’s journey began when he adopted a group of Vietnamese American Buddhist monks as they walked for peace in India in 2022. Initially they thought that he was just another friendly stray, but as he faithfully accompanied them on their journey day after day, it was soon evident that this was no ordinary animal. They named him Aloka, meaning light in Sanskrit.
When the monks returned to the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, they took Aloka with them. And when in late 2025 they embarked on a 2,300 km journey from Fort Worth to Washington DC, led by Bhikkhu Pannakara, their peace march soon attracted international attention, and equally so Aloka the Peace Dog as he was soon dubbed.
On their Peace Walk in Sri Lanka, Aloka received special care and attention. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Secretary of the Sri Lanka Veterinary Association, Dr Uditha Wijesinghe, who led the coordinated medical care for Aloka throughout the Walk for Peace here, said that Aloka is a very well-behaved, calm and friendly dog.
“Aloka is a special animal because of his behaviour – anyone can pet him,” Dr Wijesinghe noted, adding that without this quality, he feels Aloka would not have been able to successfully complete the Peace Walk. Aloka was carefully examined every morning and evening and at times the monks were advised to only allow Aloka to walk shorter distances – something which Ven Pannakara Thera readily complied with.
Dr Wijesinghe met Aloka during the walk in the Central Province, and he says that as a vet, one of the most unusual features he saw in Aloka is that he accepts being examined without his handler present.
Since Aloka has been living with the monks in Huong Dao, Texas, for some years now, he is no longer a street dog, Dr Wijesinghe notes. “He’s enjoying his mega star status,” he laughs.
As the Peace Walk wended its way to Colombo, thousands lined the streets to see Aloka.
Annemarie Massillamany, a 29-year-old lawyer from Colombo, stepped out of her office near Independence Square on a Tuesday afternoon with her colleagues to watch the walk. “My colleagues and I waited eagerly, and even the crowd around us seemed especially keen to catch a glimpse of Aloka. I got to meet Aloka!,” she says, adding that what stood out most for her was how calmly he walked alongside Ven Pannakara Thera, off leash, completely at ease.
“His presence brought such a sense of peace and made the moment of observing the Walk for Peace even more meaningful. I’m a Catholic, but I was deeply moved by this spiritual and purposeful walk,” she says.
The message is clear from every social media post, every news article and every video that has gone viral – Aloka was the celebrity that everyone wanted to meet. Pictures of him peeping curiously from under the table during the walk’s opening ceremony and his demeanour through the walk have captured many hearts. But what exactly is it that makes Aloka a star? Hachiko was known for his loyalty. Laika was chosen over hundreds of other dogs because of her ability to orient herself with new surroundings easily.
Dr Wijesinghe notes that, as much as Aloka has great qualities, the environment that Ven Pannakara Thera and the monks at Huong Dao have created for him, the care that they take in ensuring that his welfare is given priority as well as the deep bond they have with the dog are also crucial to making Aloka special.
Back in the USA, Ven Pannakara Thera announced that he is in the process of setting up the Aloka the Peace Dog Foundation as Aloka’s mission was to help all kinds of animals around the world, and hopes to make it public on Vesak day.
The best way to say that you found the home of your dreams is by finding it on Hitad.lk. We have listings for apartments for sale or rent in Sri Lanka, no matter what locale you're looking for! Whether you live in Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Matara, Jaffna and more - we've got them all!