RIYADH, 1 October — Sri Lankan prime minister’s special envoy Rauf Hakeem has arrived here at the head of a three-member delegation carrying a special message for Prince Abdullah, the regent.
Hakeem, who is the country’s minister of shipping, port development, eastern development and Muslim religious affairs, is accompanied by Deputy Minister of Northern Rehabilitation Noordeen Mashoor and Minister for International Affairs Mohammed Inamullah.
During his stay in the capital, Hakeem is expected to have an audience with the regent, when he will discuss issues of concern to Sri Lanka’s Muslim community. The Kingdom has pledged support for the rehabilitation of Muslims affected by the island republic’s long-drawn civil war and reconstruction of schools and mosques destroyed during the turbulent period. Hakeem yesterday held talks with Haj Ministry officials in Jeddah on facilities to be provided to Sri Lankan pilgrims.
SriLankan Airlines’ Country Manager Fayaz Thaha told Arab News that the delegation would also take up the issue of resumption of the airline’s Jeddah flights that were suspended in 1998.
