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Saudi Arabia suspends visas for 14 countries ahead of Hajj

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Saudi Arabia has temporarily suspended the issuance of Umrah, business, and family visit visas for citizens of 14 countries, including India, effective until mid-June 2025, coinciding with the end of the Hajj pilgrimage season.

This decision, as per the reports, aims to address overcrowding and safety concerns during Hajj. The Saudi authorities have set April 13, 2025, as the last date for issuing Umrah visas, with no new visas of these types granted to nationals of the affected countries until after Hajj concludes.

The complete list of 14 countries impacted by this visa suspension, includes: Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen.

India’s inclusion in this ban is linked to efforts by Saudi officials to prevent unauthorised participation in Hajj. According to reports, some individuals from India and other listed countries have entered Saudi Arabia on Umrah or visit visas and overstayed to perform Hajj without registering through official channels. This method bypasses the kingdom’s quota system, which allocates specific Hajj slots to each country to regulate the number of pilgrims.

According to sources, Saudi authorities blamed unregistered participants for the overcrowding and intense heat that killed over 1,200 pilgrims during the Hajj in 2024. These unapproved pilgrims frequently do not have access to basic amenities like lodging, transportation, and healthcare, which makes safety hazards and logistical difficulties worse.

According to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, this action is a logistical response to guarantee a safer and better-organized pilgrimage and has nothing to do with diplomatic concerns. According to reports, registered pilgrims can continue as scheduled because diplomatic visas, residency permits, and visas particular to the Hajj are unaffected. Saudi authorities have also threatened to bar people from entering the country for five years if they undertake the Hajj without permission or remain longer than is permitted.

This ban on visas comes after Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended one-year multiple-entry visas indefinitely and restricted travel from these 14 countries to single-entry visas valid for 30 days in February 2025.According to reports, the current prohibition strengthens that policy and restricts access even further in advance of the Hajj 2025, which is set for June 4–9.

India is on the list due to documented cases of visa misuse by some nationals attempting unauthorized Hajj participation, a problem Saudi Arabia seeks to mitigate through this temporary visa suspension affecting 14 countries.

The complete list of the 14 countries affected by Saudi Arabia’s temporary visa ban, as reported by various reports. While some reports explicitly name 13 countries and confirm a total of 14, the 14th country has not been universally specified in all sources, but Morocco is frequently cited as the likely addition based on overlapping patterns.

(TOI)

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Names of Mayors and Chairpersons of several LG bodies gazetted

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A gazette extraordinary has been issued containing the names of Mayors, Deputy Mayors, Chairpersons, and Vice-Chairpersons of several local government institutions.

The names have been gazetted based on recommendations sent to the National Election by political parties and independents groups that secured a majority in local government bodies at the recently concluded Local Government (LG) election.    

Accordingly, the Election Commission has taken steps to publish the names from among the political parties and independent groups that secured a majority at the Local Government election held recently.

The names of the elected and nominated members for the respective local authorities, following the Local Government election were also published in the government gazette based on the respective administrative districts.

As per the gazette notification issued by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils, and Local Government on February 17, 2025, the term of office of local government bodies is scheduled to commence on June 2, 2025

පළාත් පාලන ආයතනවල සභාපතිවරුන්ගේ නම් ඇතුළත් ගැසට් පත්‍රය නිකුත් කෙරේ by poornima

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Weather Alert: Showers to ease in Southwest, strong winds forecast in North

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Prevailing showery condition in the southwestern part of the island is expected to reduced gradually from today (01st)

Showers or thundershowers will occur at times in Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and North-western provinces and in Galle and Matara districts.

Showers or thundershowers may occur at a few places in Uva province and in Ampara and Batticaloa districts during the afternoon or night.

Fairly strong winds of about (30-40) kmph can be expected at times over Western slopes of the central hills and in Northern, North-central and North-western provinces and in Hambantota and Trincomalee districts.

The general public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by temporary localized strong winds and lightning during thundershowers.

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Aluthgamage and Fernando assigned printing work in prison

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Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage and former Sathosa Chairman Nalin Fernando, sentenced this week to jail for 20 and 25 years, respectively, have been assigned duties in the printing section at the Welikada prison, sources said.

Both of them are being held together away from the main section of the prison’s ‘chapel’ section, where prisoners serving life sentences and those convicted of murder and rape are held. The prison’s printing section prints its own documentation.

Prison sources said that in placing them in relevant wards to serve their jail term, the authorities had taken into consideration the security of the two convicts, as they might have had political enemies.

Mr Aluthgamage was handed a 20-year term of rigorous imprisonment, while Mr Fernando was given a 25-year term of rigorous imprisonment by a High Court trial-at-bar after being found guilty of causing a Rs 53 million loss to the state.

They were accused of importing carrom boards and checkers boards through Sathosa during the 2015 presidential elections and distributing them to clubs.

Their lawyers said yesterday they were awaiting the certified copy of the judgement to prepare the appeal papers. The appeal will be considered by the Supreme Court.

(sundaytimes.lk)
(This story, originally published by sundaytimes.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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