JEDDAH: The first batch of Sri Lankan Haj pilgrims arrived onboard a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight at Jeddah’s Haj Terminal on Sunday.

The 241 pilgrims were seen off in Colombo by the island’s Western Province Gov. S. Alavi Mowlana and Petroleum Minister A.H.M. Fowzie, who is also in charge of Haj. The pilgrims were received in Jeddah by Sri Lankan Consul General Abdul Latiff Mohamed Lafeer.

The consul general told Arab News that in all 5,800 Sri Lankan pilgrims will be performing Haj this year and that they would be in the Kingdom by Nov. 20. “We are thankful to the local authorities for granting us an increase of 3,000 more pilgrims over our 2,800 quota,” Lafeer said.

In all, eight private tour operators are bringing the pilgrims. “Their housing and other arrangements for the smooth passage of the pilgrimage have been already arranged,” he added.