Sri Lanka signed the agreement for the Hajj pilgrimage – 2025 on 11 January 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The agreement was signed by the Sri Lankan delegation headed by the Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka, Dr. Sunil Senevi, and the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdulfattah Bin Sulaiman Mashat.

This agreement demonstrates the commitment of both governments to enhancing the pilgrimage experience for Sri Lankan Muslims. Minister Senevi is visiting Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah.

During the bilateral meeting which preceded the signing of the agreement, Minister Senevi emphasized the focus of the Government of Sri Lanka on improving the Hajj experience for its citizens, and shared plans for streamlining Hajj operations in the future, aiming for a smoother and more efficient pilgrimage process.

Minister Senevi is also scheduled to meet with the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Fawzan Alrabiah and engage with Hajj service providers. The delegation will also visit Madinah, holy Prophet’s city, as well as important cultural sites in Jeddah and Madinah. Further, the Minister engaged in interactions with the Sri Lankan community in Jeddah.

The Sri Lankan delegation includes Deputy Minister of National Integration, Muneer  Mulaffar, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia, Ameer Ajwad, Director of the  Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, M.R.M. Nawas, Acting Consul  General of Sri Lanka in Jeddah, Mafusa Lafir and Hajj Coordinator, Dr. M.N.M. Ahsraff.

The official meeting between President Anura Kumara Disanayake and Chinese President Xi Jinping commenced a short while ago at at 05.00 pm Chinese time at the Great Hall of the People.

It is also expected that several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) will be signed following bilateral discussions between the two Presidents.

Previously, preparations made for a special welcome ceremony for visiting Sri Lankan President, the official meeting and signing ceremony are as follows :

(Video : CCTV +)

The Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs has refuted reports of opening the historic Sigiriya rock fortress for tourists for night visits.

In a statement, the ministry has said that no decision has been taken to open the Sigiriya rock fortress for foreigners during night time.

The statement further noted that an image of an illuminated Sigiriya rock during night time, which has been making rounds on social media, is also fake.

The statement comes after it was previously reported that the Ministry of Tourism had decided to open the historic Sigiriya rock fortress for tourists on moonlit nights.

It was reported that the programme called  ‘Sigiriya in Moon’ will be implemented for five days a month ; two days prior to the full moon day, on the full moon day, and two days after.