RIYADH, 2 December 2006 — The first batch of Sri Lankan pilgrims arrived by a special Saudi Arabian Airlines flight which ferried 282 pilgrims from Colombo Thursday. They were received at the Haj Terminal by the Sri Lankan Ambassador A.M.J. Sadiq, Consul General Masihudeen Inamullah and the consulate officials.
This is the first group of the 4,500 pilgrims who will arrive in the coming days from Colombo,” Ambassador Sadiq told Arab News. Last year, 7,500 Sri Lankans performed Haj, but this year the quota has been cut to 4,500 by the Haj Ministry.
One and a half year-old Ayeshathul Jenna from Maruthamunai from eastern Sri Lanka was the youngest pilgrim in the group. The oldest was Mohammed Aboobucker, 86, from Bibile district in the southeast of the country. He is the imam of a mosque in the area.
Commending the services rendered by the Haj Ministry, Sadiq said the Sri Lankan pilgrims were cleared from the airport in no time. “Now they are proceeding to Makkah.”
Mohamed Mahmud Al-Ali, Saudi ambassador in Colombo who is currently in the Kingdom, told Arab News that there was smooth issuance of visas in Colombo. The Kingdom will offer its best services to Hajis from all parts of the globe, he noted.
Consul General Inamullah said that he had formed a special team to look after the interests of the Sri Lankan pilgrims. The group is composed of volunteers and all Muslim officers in the consulate. A medical team will also join the Sri Lankan pilgrims in the coming days.
