RAMEEZ ABOOBACKER
COLOMBO; The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has a long history of supporting Sri Lanka’s socio-economic and educational development. Above all, they have been providing a unique opportunity for intellectuals, religious scholars, and other dignitaries from Sri Lanka to perform Umrah and Haj Pilgrimages annually through the gracious programme of Custodian of Two Holy Mosques Program for Hajj, overseen by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah, and Guidance of the Kingdom.
This year, I was among a privileged group of ten Sri Lankan pilgrims chosen as Guests of the King under the gracious program of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques aimed to host 1,000 international pilgrims in 2024 for Umrah. As Guests of the King, we received exceptional hospitality throughout our pilgrimage.
This experience provided an invaluable platform. Not only did we perform the Umrah pilgrimage with all facilities provided, but we also interacted with scholars and intellectuals from diverse backgrounds. It was truly enriching to visit the historical and spiritual sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina, places we had only studied before in the lessons.
Furthermore, we had the privilege of visiting the Islamic University of Madinah, where over 140 Sri Lankan students are currently pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate studies under scholarships in various disciplines. Connecting with these scholars reinforced Saudi Arabia’s commitment to empowering Sri Lankan youth through education.
We, the ten Sri Lankan pilgrims representing diverse backgrounds, are incredibly grateful to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Excellency Ambassador Khalid Hamoud Al-Kahtani for this extraordinary opportunity. Maintaining a strong and cordial relationship between Sri Lanka and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is paramount for the long-term benefit of both our nations.
(The author is the Vice Chancellor of the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka)
