RIYADH, 24 November 2007 — A total of 600 Sri Lankan pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom, Sri Lankan Consul General in Jeddah A.C.M. Lafeer said yesterday.
The first planeload of 274 Sri Lankan pilgrims arrived at the Haj Terminal in Jeddah on a special Saudia charter on Wednesday. The pilgrims were received by a delegation from the Sri Lankan mission, led by Lafeer and his wife, Rifaya.
“This year, there will be a total of 5,500 pilgrims,” Lafeer told Arab News, pointing out that that Saudia alone would operate 17 flights and SriLankan Airlines would operate nine flights to bring in the pilgrims.
The embassy and consulate staff supported by a team of 20 volunteers will supervise the Sri Lankan Haj operations. A special medical team would also arrive shortly to look after the health needs of the pilgrims, said Lafeer, adding that the last incoming Haj flight from Colombo will be on Dec. 16.
He said his staff has been detailed to greet the pilgrims at the Haj Terminal on their arrival and render needed assistance.
“So far, we have not encountered any problems, except for one child passenger who had come with its parents without a valid visa. But it was sorted out with Saudi officials,” Lafeer said.
Answering a question about the Ceylon House, the endowment property purchased by a group of Sri Lankan Muslims for housing pilgrims, Lafeer said the Saudi caretaker of the building was not allowing the consulate to use the property to accommodate pilgrims. “We will take up the matter with the concerned authorities to enable our pilgrims to make use of the facility next year,” he said.
The property was bought by a group of Sri Lankan philanthropists in 1966 at a cost of SR65,000 for use by pilgrims from the island nation.
