RIYADH, 1 December 2007 — Two Sri Lankan pilgrims died in Makkah on Monday and Tuesday, it was announced yesterday. “Both deaths were due to natural causes,” A.L.M. Lafeer, Sri Lankan consul general in Jeddah, told Arab News.
The deceased were: Aliyar Ummu Salma, 63, from Tambala Polannaruwa, 250 km away from the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, and Mohamed Jamaldeen from Galhinna, Kandy, 100 km from Colombo. Ummu Salma had come for the pilgrimage with a group of 15 pilgrims from her village through Al-Madinah Travels, while Jamaldeen whose son is working in Jeddah, had come through F&F Travels.
Lafeer said the mission gave a quick clearance for the burial of the dead bodies. The funeral took place in the holy city of Makkah. A total of 5,500 pilgrims are expected from the island this year.
Last year, a total of 15 deaths were reported among Sri Lankan pilgrims.
