Saudi grants 8,000 Haj quotas

Asela Kuruluwansa

The Saudi government will permit 8,000 Sri Lankan Muslim devotees to visit the country as Haj pilgrims during the forthcoming Haj season while providing all the facilities to them.

The request to the Saudi government had been made by the Sri Lanka Haj pilgrimage organizing committee.

This was disclosed by Haj pilgrimage committee organizing member and Deputy Environment Minister A R M Abdul Cader. The Deputy Minister said that he would express his gratitude in this connection to the Saudi government and its Minister in Charge of Haj pilgrimages.

Cader also said that he held talks with Saudi authorities in Jeedah in this connection together with Senior Minister A H M Fowzie, Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha, Western Provincial Governor Alavi Mowlana, Muslim Religious Affairs Director Mohammed Navam who had been nominated to the organizing committee by Prime Minister D M Jayaratne on the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He said that they had discussions with a number of Saudi authorities including their Minister in charge of Haj pilgrimages and the Deputy Minister.

The Saudi authorities had also extended their wishes to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s development programs.

The government’s duty in this regard will be to get the quota of the pilgrims this season to Saudi Arabia and supervision of the process regarding the Haj festival.

The Sri Lankan committee members had also discussed with the Saudi authorities the possibility of getting a reduction up to 750 Saudi Riyals the sum of 1,000 Saudi Riyals charged from devotees previously.

Deputy Minister Abdul Cader added that the government had authorized 75 agents in Sri Lanka to issue air fares to the pilgrims enabling them to get the air tickets easily.