Sri Lanka seeks higher Haj quota
Mohammed Rasooldeen in Riyadh
Petroleum Resources Minister A.H.M. Fowzie arrived in Jeddah
yesterday to seek an increased Haj quota from the Saudi government for
the forthcoming pilgrimage season.
Fowzie told the Daily News that he came on a special mission to meet
Haj Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy, to seek a quota of 6,000 pilgrims from
the island.
"With the restoration of peace following the liberation of LTTE held
areas, more Muslims from the Eastern and North Central provinces have
come forward to perform the pilgrimage this year," Fowzie told the Daily
News. Fowzie, who signed a Haj agreement following talks with Haj
Minister Dr. Fouad Al-Farsy in July, said that the accord indicated only
2,800 pilgrims.
|
Blacklisted - 18 errant operators |
| Minister
A.H.M. Fowzie said Haj operations are streamlined through a
network of 62 reputed Haj operators. "We have blacklisted 18
errant operators and inquiries are being conducted against a few
other operators whose licences would be cancelled if they are
found guilty of the charges levelled against them." |
He said he has come here to request an increased quota of pilgrims to
accommodate expected new pilgrims from the liberated areas. "Muslims
were also victims of terror. They were chased out from the north by
Tigers and they had to abandon their properties as a result of terror,"
he said.
Last year, 5,500 Sri Lankan pilgrims performed Haj. "This year, we
have appealed for an enhanced quota of 6,000," he said.
In response to a special request made by President Mahinda Rajapaksa
in 2007, Saudi Arabia increased the quota of Sri Lankan pilgrims from
4,500 to 5,500.
Fowzie said under President Rajapaksa's leadership, the island has
become a peaceful place for people from all three communities to live as
members of one family. He said his government does not impose
restrictions on Muslims wanting to come on pilgrimage. "Adequate foreign
exchange and other facilities, including the quick issuance of travel
documents by the immigration and emigration department, are also made at
the other end to assist pilgrims," Fowzie said.
"Aside from negotiations on the number of pilgrims, the main focus of
our meeting with Al-Farsy will be to coordinate arrangements for the
arrival, mobilization and departure of Lankan pilgrims during the Haj,"
he added.
"We also specifically discussed the arrangements that would be made
in Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah," Fowzie said. |
