RIYADH: With the end of war in their country, the Sri Lankan government expects more people to perform Haj this year, said the island’s Minister of Petroleum Abdul Hameed Mohamed Fowzie, who wrapped up a weeklong visit to the Kingdom yesterday.
“With the restoration of peace following the liberation of rebel-held areas, more Muslims from the island’s Eastern and North Central provinces will feel free to travel,” Fowzie told Arab News.
He added that the new developments in the country have paved the way for the free movement of people within the island.
Fowzie, who signed a Haj agreement following talks with Haj Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy, said he has requested an increased quota of pilgrims to accommodate expected new pilgrims from the liberated areas. “Muslims were also victims of terror. They were chased out from the north by Tamil rebels and they had to abandon their properties as a result of terror,” he said.
He said Al-Farsy has agreed to consider the request favorably. Last year, 5,500 Sri Lankan pilgrims performed Haj. “This year, we have appealed for an enhanced quota of 8,500,” he said.
Fowzie was accompanied by Alavi Mowlana, Sri Lanka’s Western Province governor, and Rizmi Reyal, chairman and managing director of the Traveler Globe. Sri Lankan Ambassador Abdul Ageed Mohamed Marleen and Consul General Abdul Latiff Mohammed Lafeer also accompanied the delegation during its meeting with Haj officials.
In response to a special request made by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 2007, Saudi Arabia increased the quota of Sri Lankan pilgrims from 4,500 to 5,500. Around seven percent of the island’s 20.2 million population is Muslim.
Fowzie said that under the leadership of President Rajapaksa, the island has become a peaceful place for people from all three communities — Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims — to live as members of one family.
He said his government does not impose restrictions on Muslims wanting to come on pilgrimage. “Adequate foreign exchange and other facilities, including the quick issuance of travel documents by the immigration and emigration department, are also made at the other end to assist pilgrims,” Fowzie said.
“Aside from negotiations on the number of pilgrims, the main focus of our meeting with Al-Farsy was to coordinate arrangements for the arrival, mobilization and departure of Lankan pilgrims during the Haj,” he added.
“We also specifically discussed the arrangements that would be made in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah,” Fowzie said.
Fowzie said Haj operations are streamlined through a network of 62 reputed Haj operators. “We have blacklisted 18 errant operators, and inquiries are being conducted against a few other operators whose licenses would be canceled if they are found guilty of the charges leveled against them.”
