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by Mohamed Rasooldeen in Riyadh

Minister of Port Development, shipping, Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs Rauf Hakeem arrived in Jeddah Saturday night as a special envoy of prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe.

He was accompanied by Deputy Minister of Wanni Development Noordeen Mashoor and three ministry officials.

The Minister will meet the regent of Saudi Arabia, Crown prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz today to deliver a special message from the Prime Minister.

He was received on arrival by Saudi Foreign Minister officials, island's Ambassador Ibrahim Sahib Ansar, Consul General A.C.M. Ibrahim and SriLankan Airlines Country Manager Fayaz Thaba.

The Minister said he has been assigned by the Government to tell Saudi officials of the peace proposals being implemented after the talks between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE.

Hakeem who will also meet the Saudi Haj Minister Dr. Iyad Madani will discuss arrangements for the Haj pilgrimage early next year.

The Minister said he hopes to request the Saudi Government to make arrangements to resume SriLankan Airlines flights from Jeddah.

Hakeem said this will help Haj pilgrims and Sri Lankan expatriates in the Western Province. Direct flights to Colombo were suspended four years ago.

Thaha said his company is ready to start two flights to Jeddah once the Saudi Government gives the greenlight.

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