The first group of 47 Sri Lankan pilgrims departed for Makkah on May 11 aboard an Air Arabia flight, marking the beginning of the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage season for the country. A farewell ceremony was held at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA), attended by several key officials including Saudi Ambassador Khalid Humoud Al Kahtani, Western Province Governor Haneef Yusoof, National Integration Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer, Director of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs M.S.M. Nawaz, Hajj Committee Chairman Reyaz Mihular, Chairman of the Hajj Tour Operators of Sri Lanka M.D.A. Careem, and President of the All Ceylon Haj Travel Operators Association Rizmi Reyal.
Speaking to the media, Saudi Ambassador Khalid bin Hamoud Al Kahtani expressed his pleasure in joining the pilgrims for their departure on this spiritually significant journey. He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s unwavering commitment to serving the pilgrims, noting that under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom has mobilized every possible resource to ensure the comfort, safety, and wellbeing of the pilgrims throughout their stay. He further stated that all relevant Saudi agencies have completed preparations for the Hajj season, implementing a comprehensive system covering health, logistical, technological, and security services to guarantee a safe and spiritually fulfilling experience.
Deputy Minister Muneer Mulaffer extended his gratitude to the Government of Saudi Arabia for their continued cooperation and support in facilitating a successful Hajj pilgrimage. This year, a total of 3,500 pilgrims from Sri Lanka are scheduled to perform Hajj.
Hajj Committee Chairman Reyaz Mihular acknowledged the efforts of the committee, the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, and all stakeholders in ensuring that all Hajj-related arrangements were completed efficiently. He stated that visa processing was concluded well in advance except for a few technical delays. He also highlighted significant improvements in pilgrim facilities this year, including gypsum board tents with split air conditioning units in Mina, limited to 18 pilgrims per tent, the provision of sofa beds, and the allocation of a dedicated bus for each group of 45 pilgrims. He expressed confidence that these measures would contribute to a more pleasant and comfortable pilgrimage experience for all Sri Lankan participants.
