MUHEED JEERAN
COLOMBO : Cancelling this year’s Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is showing the inefficiency of our Sri Lankan authorities. I am urging the responsible bodies to reconsider this decision to make sure this blessings reaches to crisis-hit Sri Lanka.
The Sri Lankan Muslims missed the opportunity for the last two consecutive years due to the global pandemic. Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia can use a currency swap agreement for the pilgrimage cost of this year which might be less than 10 million dollars.
Also they should have exempted the family sponsors pilgrims who are not going to affect dollars reserve at all. This blanket ban is depriving their opportunity which they could enjoy without affecting our foreign exchange issue.
Even the Kingdom could arrange a credit-line facility to sponsor the necessary facilities for the pilgrims as the Kingdom must appreciate that the pilgrims from Sri Lanka has been performing Hajj for hundreds of years including my great-grandfather Mohammed Lebbe Hajiar (MLH) who also performed his Hajj during his days.
It is clear that the Sri Lankan Muslims have also made their contribution to the economy of the Saudi Arabia when it was needed the support from outside world.
Today Saudi Arabia is a country with a rich economy which became rich few decades back only. However, before it became rich it was the pilgrims who helped massively to their economy including Sri Lankan Muslim pilgrims. Therefore I hope that the Kingdom would lend a helping hand to resolve this year’s Hajj for the benefit of the Sri Lankan Muslims.
I understand there were times in the past that the pilgrims in Sri Lanka used to carry extra money for the distribution among the Bedouins in Makkah and Madinah. The destiny may change from time to time but the sense of gratitude and generosity should continue irrespective of changes in the global system.
I hope the ambassador of Saudi Arabia too will play a role to fulfil the aspirations of pilgrims who have waited so long to perform this Hajj.
I made a clarification with the governor of Central Bank of Sri Lanka regarding some reports that CB was failing to respond about their request. Nandalal Weerasinghe clearly told me that the CB has nothing to do with this matter.
(The writer is an International Human Rights ActivistInternational Political Lobbyist and Strategist)
