First batch of Lankan Haj pilgrims arrive

Mohammed Rasooldeen in Riyadh

The first batch of Sri Lankans comprising 241 pilgrims arrived by Saudi Arabian Airlines at the Haj Terminal of King Abdul Aziz International Airport here over the weekend.

My lifes ambition is fulfilled, said Muhammad Nijar, leader of the group transported by Kara Haj operator, on arrival. Many other pilgrims in the batch echoed Nijars sentiment saying they saved the money over some years to undertake the annual pilgrimage.

Sri Lankan Ambassador Mohamed Ageed Mohammed Marleen and Consul General Abdul Latiff Mohamed Lafeer received the group. A medical team comprising three doctors and four paramedics arrived from Colombo yesterday to take care of the pilgrims. The first batch is part of 5,300 pilgrims who will be performing the Haj this year, the consul general told Arab News.

Petroleum Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, who is also in-charge of the Department of Muslim Cultural Affairs, will be heading an eight-member goodwill Haj delegation on December 2, which will mark the last incoming Haj flight from Colombo. The pilgrims will be transported back home after the annual pilgrimage from December. 13.

All pilgrims are coming under the arrangements made by the Department of Muslim Cultural Affairs in cooperation with 62 licensed tour operators, Lafeer said, adding that the licenses of three other Haj operators in Colombo had been canceled due to malpractices last year.

Minister Fowzie said that this year he had stipulated a ceiling on Haj fares. "The maximum fare for a pilgrim would be Rs 235,000 exclusive of airfare. It should include, accommodation near the Holy Haram in Meccca , food and internal transports to the holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Madina."

Besides Saudi Arabia Airlines, the other foreign carriers that that would Sri Lankan pilgrims include Air Arabia, Jordan Airlines and SriLankan.