Minister Fowzie, Saudi King to discuss Hajj quota

by Mohammed NAALIR

Senior Minister A.H.M. Fowzie will conduct discussions with the Saudi Arabian King in Holy Makkah to increase the Hajj quota to Sri Lanka in future. The Saudi Arabian Government offered only 3,800 Hajj opportunities to Sri Lanka this year.

The feasibility of increasing the Hajj quota, at once or stage-by-stage will be discussed, the Minister said.

The Saudi Arabian Government has imposed restrictions on Hajj quotas in the recent past. The Minister said that last year Sri Lanka received 5,800 Hajj visas. Receipt of more visas at the last minute will cause difficulties in making travel arrangements.

The Hajj quota has declined from 5,800 to 3,800. The Royal Court in Saudi Arabia, which inquired in to the complaints of Hajj pilgrims, limited the Hajj quota on the grounds that Sri Lankan Hajj travel operators can't handle a large number of pilgrims, the Minister said.