Sri Lankan minister seeks enhanced pilgrims quota
April 28, 2011 07:54 am
Sri Lanka asked the Kingdom on Wednesday for an increased Haj quota for the forthcoming pilgrimage season. The appeal was made by a high-level delegation from Colombo during a meeting with Haj Minister Fouad Al-Farsy in Jeddah.
The delegation, led by Sri Lanka‘s Urban Affairs Senior Minister Abdul Hameed Mohamed Fowzie, included Western Province Gov. Alavi Moulana, Environment Deputy Minister A.R.M. Abdul Cader, Technology and Research Deputy Minister Faizer Musthafa and Muslim Religious Cultural Affairs Director Y.L.M. Navavi.
Sri Lankan Ambassador Ahmed A. Jawad and Consul General Sabarullah Khan were also present at the meeting.
Talking to Arab News following the meeting, Fowzie said he requested an increased quota of pilgrims from 5,800 to 8,000. He added that the main reason for the request was that Muslims in Sri Lankan are now free to travel in and out of the country following the end of the civil war.
“We have successfully wiped out terror from the shores of Sri Lanka under the able leadership of the country‘s President Mahinda Rajapaksa,” Fowzie said. He said the Saudi Haj minister assured him that he would consider the request favorably.
Last year, Saudi Arabia allowed an additional number of Sri Lankan pilgrims on top of the usual quota.
Fowzie thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and his government for the wonderful services extended to Haj pilgrims who come to the holy cities every year.
On behalf of the country‘s president, Fowzie also extended an invitation to the Haj minister to visit Sri Lanka. Muslims comprise 7 percent of the island‘s population of 21 million. He said Haj operations are streamlined through a network of 91 operators based in all parts of the island.
“We have a separate department to handle Haj operations and the Saudi Embassy in Colombo coordinates with the government in the quick issuance of Haj visas to pilgrims.”
“Every year, the Sri Lankan government blacklists operators who fail to meet the expectations of the Haj Department.”
Last year, there were complaints about the muallim appointed by the Saudi Haj Ministry. However, Al-Farsy has reportedly promised to remedy this for the upcoming Haj season, Arab News reports.
The delegation, led by Sri Lanka‘s Urban Affairs Senior Minister Abdul Hameed Mohamed Fowzie, included Western Province Gov. Alavi Moulana, Environment Deputy Minister A.R.M. Abdul Cader, Technology and Research Deputy Minister Faizer Musthafa and Muslim Religious Cultural Affairs Director Y.L.M. Navavi.
Sri Lankan Ambassador Ahmed A. Jawad and Consul General Sabarullah Khan were also present at the meeting.
Talking to Arab News following the meeting, Fowzie said he requested an increased quota of pilgrims from 5,800 to 8,000. He added that the main reason for the request was that Muslims in Sri Lankan are now free to travel in and out of the country following the end of the civil war.
“We have successfully wiped out terror from the shores of Sri Lanka under the able leadership of the country‘s President Mahinda Rajapaksa,” Fowzie said. He said the Saudi Haj minister assured him that he would consider the request favorably.
Last year, Saudi Arabia allowed an additional number of Sri Lankan pilgrims on top of the usual quota.
Fowzie thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and his government for the wonderful services extended to Haj pilgrims who come to the holy cities every year.
On behalf of the country‘s president, Fowzie also extended an invitation to the Haj minister to visit Sri Lanka. Muslims comprise 7 percent of the island‘s population of 21 million. He said Haj operations are streamlined through a network of 91 operators based in all parts of the island.
“We have a separate department to handle Haj operations and the Saudi Embassy in Colombo coordinates with the government in the quick issuance of Haj visas to pilgrims.”
“Every year, the Sri Lankan government blacklists operators who fail to meet the expectations of the Haj Department.”
Last year, there were complaints about the muallim appointed by the Saudi Haj Ministry. However, Al-Farsy has reportedly promised to remedy this for the upcoming Haj season, Arab News reports.