Saudi Arabia agrees to increase Haj quota

Jayasiri MUNASINGHE

Saudi Arabian authorities have agreed to increase the quota of Haj pilgrims granted to Sri Lanka to more than 8,000 during the forthcoming pilgrimage season, said Environment Deputy Minister and Member Sri Lanka Haj Committee A R M Abdul Cader.

The deputy Minister who was a member of the Haj Committee which visited Saudi Arabia to negotiate with Saudi Arabian Authorities at diplomatic level said their Saudi counterparts treated them in a very friendly manner and offered a very positive response to the representatives made by the Sri Lankan Haj committee. He said the Saudi authorities also agreed to provide more guides for Sri Lankan pilgrims during the Haj pilgrimage.

The Deputy Minister said he also offered special prayers at Mecca prior to their meeting and invoked blessings on President Mahinda Rajapaksa to defeat all international conspiracies hatched against the government including the controversial Darusman Report.