Committee to look into Hajj pilgrimage quotas

by Naalir Jamaldeen

A committee will be set up to inquire into the issues relating to the Hajj pilgrimage quotas given to tour operator, Muslim Religious Affairs and Posts Minister M.H.A. Haleem told the Sunday Observer.

He said that the committees will comprises of lawyers, Islamic religious prelates and Hajj travel operation experts.Various criticisms have been leveled against the issuing of Hajj quotas to travel operators due to certain inexperienced Hajj travel operators being offered quotas. Many complaints were made by pilgrims in this regard. "Hajj pilgrimages in Singapore are operated smoothly due to a separate body being set up to handle the tours", the Minister said. Many issues arose last year due to the absence of a proper mechanism for issuing of quotas", the Minister said.

"Sri Lanka received 2,200 Hajj quotas last year . I held discussions with the Hajj Affairs Minister of Saudi Arabia and requested for 4,000 quotas hoping to get at least 3,000. We are confident

that we will be given 600 additional quotas", Minister Haleem said.