Sri Lanka seeks 5,800 Haj pilgrims quota

By : Md Rasooldeen | Arab News | Riyadh | 22 Mar 2012

Sri Lanka requested yesterday a quota of 5,800 pilgrims for the forthcoming Haj pilgrimage this year.

The request was made by visiting Sri Lankan senior minister for Urban Development Abdul Hameed Mohamed Fowzie during his meeting with Minister of Haj Bandar Hajjar in Jeddah on Wednesday.

Speaking to Arab News following the meeting yesterday, Fowzie said he had requested a one-off quota of 5,800 pilgrims from the Haj minister. The country has more than 3 million Muslims, he added.

Fowzie explained every year Sri Lanka gets the quota spread in two installments. “During the first issue of visas we get 2,800 and subsequently after we appeal the original allocation we get another 3,000, which does not allow us to plan the distribution among applicants in a fair manner,” the minister said.

He added the main reason for an increased quota of pilgrims is that Muslims in the country are now free to travel in and out of the country following the end of the recent civil war. “We have successfully wiped out terror from the shores of Sri Lanka under the able leadership of (Sri Lankan) President Mahinda Rajapaksa,” Fowzie said.

Fowzie said the Haj minister assured him he would consider the request favorably.

The minister was accompanied by Western Province Governor Alavi Mowlana, Deputy Minister of Environment A.R.M. Abdul Cader, Director of the Department of Muslim Religious Affairs and Cultural Affairs Mohamed Navavi and Haj Travel Operator Dr. W.G. Rasheed Mohamed Farook.

Sri Lankan Ambassador Ahmed A. Jawad and Consul General Dr. Adambawa Uthumalebbe also took part in the ministerial discussions.

Fowzie thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and his government for the wonderful services extended to Haj pilgrims who come to the holy cities every year.

On behalf of the country’s president Fowzie also extended an invitation to the Haj minister to visit Sri Lanka.

“Muslims are well looked after by the Rajapaksa government. There are no restrictions imposed on the number of Haj pilgrims who wish to perform the pilgrimage,” the visiting minister explained. “We allow everyone who wishes to perform this lifetime obligation toward Allah,” he said.

He said Haj operations are streamlined through a network of Haj operators based in all parts of the country. “We have a separate department to handle Haj operations and the Saudi Embassy in Colombo cooperates with the government in the quick issuance of Haj visas to the pilgrims.”

“Every year the Lankan government blacklists operators who fail to match the expectations of the Haj department during the previous pilgrimage.”