Bratislava  - Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, received Wednesday a human rights award in a highlight of his three-day visit to Slovakia, local reports said.

The Dalai Lama was honoured with the Jan Langos Prize, named after a Slovak anti-communist dissident and awarded by a Bratislava-based foundation carrying his name.

The Jan Langos Foundation said on its web site that it awarded the 74-year-old Tibetan leader for his "life-long resistance against the oppressive regime in China."

Leading government officials, including Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Ivan Gasparovic, declined to attend the ceremony as Slovakia backs China's policy towards Tibet.

The Dalai Lama is also scheduled to give a public talk at a Bratislava stadium on Wednesday afternoon.

His next stop is the neighbouring Czech Republic where he is to arrive on Thursday and attend a conference on human rights in Asia on Friday. He is planned to return to India on Saturday.(dpa)