Colombo: Sri Lanka’s Muslims will not take part in this year’s Hajj, the country’s pilgrims announced on Tuesday, as the island nation faces its worst economic crisis in memory.
About 10 percent of Sri Lanka’s population of 22 million are Muslims, who are mainly Buddhists.
This year, 1,585 Sri Lankans were expected to perform Hajj after Saudi Arabia announced last month that it would allow 1 million foreign and domestic Muslims to visit the holy city of Mecca during the pilgrimage season.
Hajj, one of the five main pillars of the faith of Islam, was limited to just 1,000 domestic visitors in 2020. Last year, the Kingdom limited the pilgrimage to 60,000 domestic participants, compared to 2.5 million pre-pandemic.
But even though Sri Lanka’s pilgrim quota is low this year, the cost of sending worshipers to the state remains high for the country.
The All Ceylon Haj Tour Operators Association and Sri Lanka’s Haj Tour Operators Association said in a letter, “Given the current situation and the suffering of the people in our mother Lanka, members of both associations decided to sacrifice this year’s Hajj. ” The country’s Muslim Religious Affairs Department.
The organizations are an umbrella group of government-licensed operators – the only tour organizers available to potential pilgrims.
Rizmi Riyal, president of the Haj Tour Operators Association, said the operators’ decision was unanimous due to the “serious dollar crisis facing the country”.
The economy of Sri Lanka is in very bad shape. Earlier this month, the finance ministry estimated its usable foreign reserves at less than $5 million. The country has already defaulted on its loans after the foreign loan repayment deadline has been missed.
Ahkam Uwais, chairman of the National Haj Committee under Sri Lanka’s Department of Muslim Religious Affairs, said, “The entire Haj operation for Sri Lankan pilgrims will cost around $10 million, which is a huge amount compared to the country’s current economic situation.” Arab News.
“The decision to withdraw this year’s Haj is a generous gesture by the members of the Muslim community to sacrifice their pilgrimage for the sake of the country,” he said.
Shaheed M. Rismi, president of the All-Ceylon Young Men’s Muslim Association, said the decision of the Muslim community was “in solidarity with others in times of testing.”
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