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5,500 Haj pilgrims from Lanka

by A.H.M. Farook

Around 5,500 Muslims will make the pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia starting from January 18. The first batch of pilgrims will leave the island on January 18.

Nearly 4,000 pilgrims have opted to fly on Saudi Airlines while the rest will use Kuwait Airways, Gulf Air, Emirates and Jordanian Airlines. Noticeable absentee this time, too, will be the SriLankan Airlines which has for unknown reasons failed to provide air travel to these local pilgrims.

Muslim Religious Affairs Ministry officials, attributed the absence of SriLankan Airlines to their non-chartering of flights on special occasions.

Around two million Muslims from around the world are expected to congregate at Mecca this year for the annual Haj pilgrimage.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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