Free Saudi visas to 100 Lankas on Umrah

At the request of the Sri lankan Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Saudi Arabian Embassy has issued free visas to 100 Sri Lankan Muslims proceeding on Umrah pilgrimage during the month of Ramazan for the first time.

Earlier this month, several Muslim political leaders and organizations had drawn the attention of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to a change in the policy of the Saudi Arabian authorities, which resulted in cutting down the number of visas issued for prospective Umrah pilgrims from all over the world. In the past Saudi Arabia Authorities have issued visas to around 2000 applicants from Sri Lanka during the month of Ramazan, this time it had reduced to 1400 only.

The Foreign Minister took up this matter with Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels. He also followed it up with representations to His Excellency Jammaz, Saudi Ambassador in Colombo. He emphasized to them the religious significance of Umrah for Muslims in the holly month of Ramazan and requested some flexibility in the case of Sri Lankan applicants.

Umrah, which is known as a lesser pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina, is an Islamic concept derived from the practices of Prophet Mumammad and from the teachings of Islam. It is an activity, which involves a physical journey from one’s place of residence to the holy sites in Saudi Arabia, undertaken in an aura of reverence to Allah and in furtherance of one’s spirituality. It comes only next to the annual pilgrimage called the Hajj. Unlike the Hajj which is compulsory for Muslims who could afford the means to perform it, Umrah is only optional. But undertaking Umrah by Muslims who could afford it is acknowledged within the Islamic world as an activity of high merit.

It is a meritorious act because Muslims from all over the world do it with a sense of awe and in manifestation of loyalty to the Creator. For some Muslims, it presents a rare opportunity of paying visit to the holly sites where the Islamic civilization originated. Most consider it a life time opportunity to perform Umrah.

It is the belief among Muslims, supported by Islamic sources, that Umrah performed during the month of Ramazan, yields multiple merits, compared to the one undertaken during the rest of the year. Many Muslims therefore prefer to go on Umrah pilgrimage for this specific reason.

This is especially the reason, which to the intervention of the Foreign Minister on this matter.

At the invitation of the Foreign Minister, Ambassador of Saudi ArabiaH.E. Jammaz called on him at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last Thursday, 3rd September 2009. The Minister impressed on him that there was a need for reconsidering the criteria applied in relation to some deserving categories of potential pilgrims.

In deference to the Minister’s request, the Saudi Ambassador confirmed to him that his Embassy would be able to issue visas to 100 first time applicants from Sri Lanka whom the Foreign Minister himself could recommend. Ambassador Jammaz personally indicated to me that the Saudi authorities would extend this assistance in good faith and in manifestation of the confidence and trust reposed in the Government of Sri Lanka under the leadership of President of Mahinda Rajapaksa. It was also indicated that this gesture would be in recognition of the Foreign Minister’s respect for the Muslim community in Sri Lanka.

Consequently, the Foreign Minister informed the concerned organizers of Umrah pilgrimage from Sri Lanka to come up with a list of first time applicants, from which a short list of deserving applicants could be finalized and submitted to the Embassy of Saudi Arabia with his recommendation.

Last Saturday, 5th September 2009, being the last day for issuance of visas by Saudi Authorities, the Minister personally went through the list and made a selection of first time applicants counting up to 100 from among prospective Umrah pilgrims from the Muslim Community.

The Foreign Minister has expressed his happiness and gratitude to the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia for issuing gratis visas to 100 first time applicants from Sri Lanka. He acknowledged that, in order to make this a reality, the Saudi Ambassador and his Embassy staff had had to work over night, sacrificing their holiday and well-earned family time. This is yet another manifestation of the ever-expanding relations between Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka both at political and personal levels. – (Min. of Foreign Affairs)