JEDDAH, 6 January 2004 — The first group of 132 Sri Lankan pilgrims arrived by Saudi Arabian Airlines flight (SV783) at the Haj Terminal of King Abdul Aziz International Airport yesterday.
“Our missions in Riyadh and Jeddah have finalized all arrangements to receive 6,000 of our pilgrims for Haj,” said Sri Lankan Ambassador I. Ansar, who welcomed the pilgrims. Accompanying him were Consul General A.C.M. Ibrahim and SAA executives, including Abdul Muathi Al-Jahdali, operations supervisor of flight operations.
“All our pilgrims are coming through the island’s 61 Haj operators,” the ambassador said.
“Muhammad Ibrahim, 85, the oldest pilgrim in the group, is performing Haj for the first time,” he added.
