First flight of Hajj pilgrims leaves

the first SriLankan Airlines flight carrying 180 Hajj pilgrims took off on 25August to Saudi Arabia. A total of 2,240 people Sri Lanka will be performing Hajj pilgrimage this year. Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Department Director M.H.M. Zameel, Members of Hajj Group Y.L.M. Navavi, Moulavi M.S.M. Thassim, former Minister of Muslim Religious Cultural Affairs M.H.A. Haleem’s Coordinating Secretary Mohamed Musthafa, Private Secretary Fahim Hashim, Officials of the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Colombo and Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs Department were present at the Bandaranaike International Airport to mark the occasion - Pix by Ruzaik Farook and Kumarasiri Prasad