Sri Lankan Muslims permitted to fly for Hajj; must transfer USD 1,500 from overseas- The New Indian Express

go through PTI

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government has decided to allow its Muslim citizens to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj on condition that they pay $1,500 in foreign currency from abroad without affecting the country’s crisis-hit economy, media reported on Thursday.

The government agreed to allow Hajj pilgrims despite the current economic crisis, after Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickremanayake met with Haj Travel Operator’s Associations on Tuesday.

According to Sri Lanka Daily, the meeting decided to accommodate the pilgrims’ request to pay for their hajj packages in foreign currency.

Sri Lanka’s travel agency earlier decided to cancel this year’s Hajj as the debt-ridden country faces its worst economic crisis.

Cancelling the hajj this year could save the island nation valuable foreign currency, they said.

Among the 1 million domestic and foreign Muslims allowed to travel to the holy city of Mecca during the pilgrimage season, Saudi Arabia approved a quota of 1,585 pilgrims from Sri Lanka for 2022.

Stressing that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka’s Muslims perform the annual pilgrimage every year without any interruptions except for the past two years, Wickremenayake said he has asked the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to make the new regulations under the new regulations Guidelines for the way of pilgrimage.

The Ministry of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs on its official website requires pilgrims to transfer US$1,500 per person from abroad to a designated foreign currency account in Sri Lanka for the Hajj.

The Hajj Tour Operators Association has been advised to make arrangements in accordance with the central bank’s guidelines and collect a reasonable amount as the fee for this year’s Hajj, the statement said.

The statement was quoted by the country’s news site News1st as saying that Sri Lanka asked those interested in taking part in the Hajj this year to confirm their participation by Friday (June 10).

The report also said that Sri Lanka had conveyed the decision to the Saudi Arabian government through appropriate diplomatic channels.

Sri Lanka has been facing its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948, partly due to a lack of foreign exchange, which means the country cannot afford to import staples and fuel, leading to severe shortages and very high prices.

Ahkam Uwais, chairman of the National Hajj Committee of the Ministry of Muslim Religious Affairs of Sri Lanka, said: “The entire Hajj event for Sri Lankan pilgrims will cost about US$10 million, which is a huge sum compared to the current economic situation in the country. Not a small amount,” he said earlier in conveying his decision to abandon the pilgrimage this year.

Muslims make up nearly 10% of Sri Lanka’s population of 22 million, mostly Buddhists.

The pilgrimage, one of the five main faith pillars of Islam, is organized by an umbrella group of government-licensed operators – the only tour organizer available to potential pilgrims.

</p> <p>COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan government has decided to allow its Muslim citizens to travel to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj on condition that they pay $1,500 in foreign currency from abroad without affecting the country’s crisis-hit economy, media reported on Thursday. The government agreed to allow Hajj pilgrims despite the current economic crisis, after Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickremanayake met with Haj Travel Operator’s Associations on Tuesday. According to Sri Lanka Daily, the meeting decided to accommodate the pilgrims’ request to pay for their hajj packages in foreign currency. Sri Lanka’s travel agency earlier decided to cancel this year’s Hajj as the debt-ridden country faces its worst economic crisis. Cancelling the hajj this year could save the island nation valuable foreign currency, they said. Among the 1 million domestic and foreign Muslims allowed to travel to the holy city of Mecca during the pilgrimage season, Saudi Arabia approved a quota of 1,585 pilgrims from Sri Lanka for 2022. Stressing that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka’s Muslims perform the annual pilgrimage every year without any interruptions except for the past two years, Wickremenayake said he has asked the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to make the new regulations under the new regulations Guidelines for the way of pilgrimage. The Ministry of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs on its official website requires pilgrims to transfer US$1,500 per person from abroad to a designated foreign currency account in Sri Lanka for the Hajj. The Hajj Tour Operators Association has been advised to make arrangements in accordance with the central bank’s guidelines and collect a reasonable amount as the fee for this year’s Hajj, the statement said. The statement was quoted by the country’s news site News1st as saying that Sri Lanka asked those interested in taking part in the Hajj this year to confirm their participation by Friday (June 10). The report also said that Sri Lanka had conveyed the decision to the Saudi Arabian government through appropriate diplomatic channels. Sri Lanka has been facing its worst economic crisis since independence from Britain in 1948, partly due to a lack of foreign exchange, which means the country cannot afford to import staples and fuel, leading to severe shortages and very high prices. Ahkam Uwais, chairman of the National Hajj Committee of the Ministry of Muslim Religious Affairs of Sri Lanka, said: “The entire Hajj event for Sri Lankan pilgrims will cost about US$10 million, which is a huge sum compared to the current economic situation in the country. Not a small amount,” he said earlier in conveying his decision to abandon the pilgrimage this year. Muslims make up nearly 10% of Sri Lanka’s population of 22 million, mostly Buddhists. Hajj, one of the five main faith pillars of Islam, is organized by an umbrella group of government-licensed operators – the only tour organizer available to potential pilgrims.<br />