JEDDAH, 30 July — Prince Abdullah, the regent, has sought a detailed report on the work of reconstruction and rehabilitation in Sri Lanka, according to a visiting minister from the island state.
Speaking to Arab News last night, following his meeting with the prince on Sunday, Mohamed Haniffa Mohamed, Sri Lanka’s minister of western region development, said he had a "fruitful" meeting with the prince in which he detailed the massive work of rebuilding madrasas and mosques destroyed during the civil war in the northern and eastern parts of the island.
"I also briefed him on the work of rehabilitation of Muslim families in the region’s two districts — Jaffna and Mannar," said the minister who was accompanied by Ambassador Ibrahim Sahib Ansar and Consul General A.C.M. Ibrahim.
"We promised the prince that the ambassador would furnish him a detailed report on the widespread destruction, as well as rebuilding and rehabilitation projects in the region," the minister said.
During his visit, the minister had several other meetings, including with Muslim World League Secretary-General Dr. Abdullah Al-Turki and his deputy for mosque affairs Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Zaid.
The minister is due to meet Saleh Al-Sheikh, minister of Islamic endowments, propagation and guidance in Taif today. He will also be meeting Shoura Council President Saleh ibn Humaid before returning home tonight.
His five-day visit was on a special invitation extended by the Royal Protocol and the Ministry of Endowments, Propagation and Guidance. He is the founder member of the constituent council of MWL, founder of the Islamic Center in Colombo and chairman of the Saudi-Sri Lanka Parliamentarians Friendship Society which was formed two months ago when a Shoura Council delegation visited the island.
In all his high level meetings, the minister said, he emphasized on the recent peace moves made by the government with Tamil rebels and also the rehabilitation projects undertaken in relocating displaced Muslims in the north and east of the country. According to him, some SR5 million will be required to renovate the mosques and abandoned buildings in the northern Jaffna district alone.
The minister has also briefed various agencies for funding projects in the island.
