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Haj pilgrims to register before December 15

by A. H. M. Farook

Prospective Haj pilgrims who wish to make pilgrimage to Mecca in February next year have been advised to register themselves at the accredited travel operators before December 15, Assistant Director of the Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Department Moulavi J. Meera Mohideen told 'Daily News' yesterday.

This was decided at a special meeting where representatives of Haj travel operators and officials attached to the Ministry and Department participated in Colombo yesterday.

The Saudi government has introduced new laws and regulations for the benefit of Haj pilgrims in Mecca and Medina cities. These laws stipulate that pilgrims should be afforded all the facilities there by respective travel operators. If prospective pilgrims register themselves at the operators in Sri Lanka before December 15, the latter will be able to meet all the necessary requirements there as stipulated by the Saudi Government, said Assistant Director Moulavi Meera Mohideen.

This time for 'Umrah' pilgrimage the Department through print and electronic media announced the arrangements well in advance. But hundreds of prospective Umrah pilgrims were not able to make the journey due to their late applications. So we don't want a repetition of this during next Haj season, Meera Mohideen added.

Registration of those travel operators should be accompanied by an advance payment, he further added.

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