JEDDAH: A new committee has been appointed to oversee the Haj of 5,800 Sri Lankan pilgrims, according to Sabarullah Khan, the Sri-Lankan Consul General on Wednesday. The country's Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs has appointed about 70 Haj operators to handle the pilgrims. The first Haj flight will arrive on Oct. 17. Alavi Moulana, the Governor of the Western Province of Sri Lanka, will lead the delegation, which also includes Fizer Musthafa, a Deputy Minister, and Azath Salley, the former Deputy Mayor of Colombo. The Haj committee has set $3,000 as the maximum cost per pilgrim. “For the first time in recent years, the Haj committee has reserved a single Muttawiff office to handle all Sri Lankan pilgrims. Accordingly, the Sri Lankan pilgrims will be accommodated at the Muttawiff Service Center No. 41 in Mina,” he said. – Saudi Gazette He said the Haj Committee has also made arrangements to deploy Sri Lankan volunteers to help pilgrims at Jeddah airport, the Two Holy Mosques and Mina. The delegation will also have a medical team available. __
