Archives

Sri Lanka House for Hajis to be established in Medina

by Mohammed Rasooldeen in Riyadh

A Sri Lanka House for Hajis will be established in Medina said the visiting Minister of Port Development, Shipping, Eastern Development, and Muslim Religious Affairs, Rauf Hakeem. He was speaking to 'Daily News' as soon after he signed an agreement with the Saudi Haj Minister Dr. Iyad Madani Tuesday. The Minister said that the new agreement, which was signed here, would ensure new areas where the Sri Lankan Hajis will be made comfortable and convenient during their stay in the Holy cities of Mecca and Madinah.

During the signing ceremony, the Deputy Minister for Wanni Development Noordeen Mashoor, island's Ambassador Ibrahim Sahib Ansar, Consul General A.C.M. Ibrahim, Advisor to Minister Hakeem on International Affairs, Mohamed Inamullah and the Director of Muslim Affairs, Mohammed Ameer were also present.

Speaking about the new clauses in the agreement, Hakeem said that the new Sri Lanka House in Medina would assist the Sri Lankan expatriates and the pilgrims in that part of the Kingdom who would require assistance from the Lankan mission in Jeddah.

He said that volunteers and consulate officials would man the office and look after the interests of the pilgrims in Medina. The Ceylon House in Makkah currently functions as a co-ordinating centre between the Sri Lanka government and the pilgrims.

Hakeem said that in future, each pilgrim will be given a bed during their stay in Makkah and Madinah, this is a special requirement from the real estate owners who provide accommodation for the pilgrims, this arrangement will avoid the Hajj operators to overcrowd the Hajis in rooms without beds, he added.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager