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, states the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombo.

The Foreign Minister took up this matter with Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels. He also followed it up with representations to Saudi Ambassador, Jammaz, 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.