RUZAIK FAROOK
COLOMBO : A group of 20 Sri Lankan Muslims selected from all walks of life including media men, Islamic scholars, social workers, intellectuals and distinguished people who will be proceeding on a pilgrimage to Makkah as guests of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, were honoured at the Saudi embassy in Colombo on Tuesday,June 4
Ambassador Khalid bin Hamoud Alkahtani hosted a farewell ceremony for the pilgrims.
Ash-Sheikh Badr bin Nasser Al-Anazi, the Religious Attaché of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in New Delhi was also present at the event .
The envoy congratulated the Kingdom’s guests, the Sri Lankan pilgrims, enlightening that the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Highness the Crown Prince Mohamed Bin Salman pay great attention to the pilgrims of the Grand Mosque of Makkah, as the Kingdom has taken all measures to ensure the comfort of the pilgrims and complete the religious obligation with ease and grace.
Saudi Ambassador told Colombo Times that this year his government has allocated a quota of 3,500 pilgrims for Sri Lanka and the last flight from Colombo will leave for Jeddah on June 10.
The following airlines will ferry the Lankan pikgrims this year ; Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Gulf Airways,Emirates ,Air Arabia ,Salam Air and SriLankan Airlines.
