Attending the Conference and Exhibition on the arrangements for Hajj pilgrimage for 2024

Hon. Vidura Wickramayake Minister of Budhdasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs visited Saudi Arabia from 5th – 7th January 2024 at the invitation of His Excellency Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia to attend the Conference and Exhibition on the arrangements for Hajj pilgrimage for 2024 and for Signing of Hajj Agreement.

The Government of Saudi Arabia has granted a quota of 3500 pilgrims from Sri Lanka this year. The Saudi Government has also introduced more facilities and new guidelines for the benefit of the Hajj pilgrims and the Hajj Travel Operators who would be taking pilgrims for Hajj pilgrimage this year.

Hon. Minister had a bilateral meeting with His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia. During the meeting, Hon. Minister thanked the Hajj and Umrah Ministry of Saudi Arabia for the arrangements and facilities extended to the Sri Lankan Hajj pilgrims in the past years and briefed him on the arrangements made by the Ministry of Budhdasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, Hajj Committee of Sri Lanka and the Department of Muslim and Religious and Cultural Affairs so far for the Hajj pilgrims from Sri Lanka in the year 2024.

Hon. Minister of Budhdasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs further made a request to increase the Hajj quota for SriLanka and to provide additional Besa( Free Movement Passes) to be distributed among Hajj Travel Operators to enable them to assist and guide the Hajj pilgrims during the pilgrimage. He also requested the Minister of Hajj and Umrah to grant permission for Foreign passport holders of Sri Lankan origin to perform Hajj under the quota allocated for Sri Lanka. His Excellency the Minister of Hajj and Umrah assured that the Hajj and Umrah Ministry would consider the proposals of the Hon. Minister favourably and extend all required assistance to the Sri Lanka Hajj Mission.

Hon. Minister of Budhdasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs signed the Hajj Agreement with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia on the arrangements and facilities to be extended to the Sri Lankan pilgrims during the Hajj pilgrimage this year, at a ceremony at the Aseela Hotel in Jeddah on 7th January 2024. His Excellency Dr. Abdul Fattah Mashat, Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah signed on behalf of the Government of Saudi Arabia.

During the visit, Hon. Minister also met Dr. Osama Danish, Head of South Asia Esatanlishment for Hajj Affairs and Mr. Suhair Sadayo, CEO of the Rawaf Mina for Hajj Services Company at separately and discussed with them on the new guidelines introduced by the Government of Saudi Arabia with regard to facilities to be extended for the Hajj pilgrims in Mina this time.
His Excellency Dr. Osama Danish, Head of South Asia Establishment for Hajj Affairs hosted a dinner in honour of the Hon. Minister and the delegation on 6th January 2024 at the Romeo hotel in Jeddah.
Further, Hon. Minister visited the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Jeddah and advised the staff on the facilities and assistance to be extended to the Sri Lankan Hajj pilgrims this year.

Hon. Minister had a meeting with Mr. Mohammed Sadhahan ( Sadique Hajiar) who is the current caretaker of the ‘Ceylon House’ building at the Consulate General.Mohammed Sadhahan ( Sadique Hajiar) briefed the Hon. Minister and the delegation on the current status of the ‘Ceylon House’ building in Makkah. He agreed to the advice of the Hon. Minister to form a Committee consisting of Sri Lanka Ambassador in Riyadh, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Jeddah, Chairman, Hajj Committee of Sri Lanka, Director of the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs and Mr. Mohammed Sadhahan ( Sadique Hajiar) with regard to the management of the property in future. Hon. Minister further suggested H. E. the Ambassasir of Sri Lanka in Riyadh to send a report, based on the discussion held on 7th January 2024, to the relevant Ministries in
Sri Lanka, for necessary follow up action in this regard.

Mr. Ibrahim Ansar, Chairman of the Hajj Committee of Sri Lanka, His Excellency P. M. Amza, Ambassador of Sri Lanka in Riyadh, Mr. Faisal Abdeen, Director of the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Falah Mowlana, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Jeddah, Mr. Ifas Nabuhan, Member of the Hajj Committee, Mr. Fazil Farook, First Secretary of the Consulate General
in Jeddah, Mr. Careem, President of the Ceylon Hajj Travel Operators’ Asaociation and Mr. Rismy Riyal, President of the All Ceylon Hajj Operators’ Association accompanied the Hon. Minister and attended the meetings.