Di-P03-11-12
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
The Island Home News Saturday 11th December, 2010 3 DEVELOPMENT FORTUNE JATHIKA Draw No: 1250 MAHAJANA SATURDAY VASANA Date 10-12-2010 SAMPATHA JAYAVIRU SUPIRI VASANA JAYODA SAMPATHA FORTUNE SAMPATHA GOVI SETHA JANA JAYA Main Draw Draw No: 80 Date:8-12-2010 SAMPATHA Zodiac - Libra Date:06-12-2010 Date: 10-12 - 2010 Date 04-12-2010 Date: 04-12-2010 Date: 09-12-2010 Date:06-12-2010 Date: 14-11-2010 Winning Nos: Date 8-12-2010 Draw No. 540 04 - 11 - 47 - 54 Winning Nos: Draw No. 2329 Bonus No 68 Draw No. 578 Draw No. 847 Draw No. 784 Super No. 11 Lucky No. 08 Winning Nos : Second Chance Super No. 21 Bonus No. 02 T-06-18-32-58 Zodiac symbol - Taurus R-03-07-23-37 Winning No: Winning No: 14 - 52 - 59 - 64 Winning Nos: V-34-38-61-62 Winning Nos: P- 08- 23- 29- 66 21-25-58-70 B -19-27-34- 60 24 - 26- 35 - 43 Y-2-0-1-6-9-9 P-9-7-7-9-3 Government’s Hajj Comm. under heavy flak Four members of the Western Provincial Council time around, Azath Sally visited Saudi thrice and No sooner the Hajj committee made an announce- that their license will be cancelled in the future if are seeking an independent inquiry into the conduct each trip would cost at least LKR 500,000. Again, the ment that all pilgrims visiting Mina and Arafat will any complaints are lodged against the unsatisfacto- of a government appointed Hajj Committee accused cost associated would be ultimately borne by the pil- have to pay 1000 Riyals and that only one Muslim ry arrangements during the pilgrimage. of alleged financial irregularities. grims. will provide services for all the pilgrims, a Minister Under your Presidency, five successful pilgrim- A. J. M. Muzammil, Mohamed Firooze, Mujubur 3. It is the responsibility of the tour operators to in your cabinet, A. H. M. Fowzie warned the Hajj ages has been conducted and they have been free Rahuman and M. Yoosuf on Thursday (Dec. 9) wrote facilitate travel and accommodation for the pilgrims committee that our pilgrims will be pushed to hard- from any controversy. However, this time around, a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa calling for during their travel to Mecca, Medina, Arafat and ships and that the cost is a lot higher this time the pilgrimage has been surrounded with allega- his intervention. Mina. The Saudi authorities have appointed around around. In response, the committee held a press con- tions of financial malpractices and complaints of The following is the full text of their letter to the 50 authorized agents called Muslims to facilitate the ference where they asked Minister Fowzie to keep hardships encountered by the pilgrims. Although President: travel of pilgrims in Mina and Arafat. The usual out of the committee’s affairs. the blame must fall directly on the committee, it is You appointed a committee to look after the inter- practice is for the tour operator to negotiate the serv- It has always been a condition of the committees you and your government that has been put in an est of Hajj pilgrims during their sacred pilgrimage. ices with these Muslims. This time around, one of in the past that operators arrange accommodation embarrassing situation. There is a common consen- This year’s committee was headed by Western the members of the committee, Azath Sally travelled for pilgrims in Mecca not exceeding 2 KM’s from the sus that the organization of this year’s pilgrimage Province Governor Alavi Moulana and its members to Saudi Arabia along with the proprietor of Kara Holy Mosque. This time, our pilgrims were put up in was appalling. This was clearly evident on the 7th included Minister Faizer Mustapha, Azath Sally, Travels, Nizar Hajiar for negotiations with the a city 10 KM’s away in a place called Azezia. As a of December 2010 when A. M. Yusuf, an opposition Alkam Uvais and N. M. Saheed as the legal advisor. Muslims. The duo negotiated a rate of 1,000 Riyals result, the pilgrims have undergone severe hardships Provincial Councilor, moved a special motion at the The responsibility of this committee was to manage per head for accommodations in Mina and Arafat to reach the mosque. Western Provincial Council which was seconded by the Hajj programme by coordinating with officials of and there was no transparency whatsoever during The registration of tour operators alone has Amjad, a Councilor representing the Government; the Saudi Arabian Hajj Ministry to obtain the neces- this process. This year’s pilgrimage consisted of raised over 10 million rupees. It is important that the condemning the organization of this year’s pil- sary visas, nominate and issue authorizations to Sri around 6,200 individuals but it is alleged that pay- public is aware of what happened to this money. grimage and the conduct of the Hajj committee Lankan tour operators who facilitate the travel and ment to the Muslims have been made for only 5000 Many friends, family and relatives of the committee members stating the above mentioned facts. accommodation of the pilgrims, and to monitor the pilgrims. Although each of the pilgrims paid 1,000 members were part of the delegation and there are When these misdeeds were exposed, Alavi performance of these operators while ensuring that Riyals, the facilities provided have been extremely concerns that this money may have been misappro- Moulana along with Minister Faizer Mustapha and conditions set by the committee are adhered to. poor while tents and buses have been packed to the priated and utilized to bear the expenses associated Azath Sally held a press conference on the pretext The inability of the said committee has led to pil- core. It is alleged that the conditions have been so with their travel. of explaining their position. Instead of explaining grims undergoing severe hardships. It has also come harsh that pilgrims who have embarked on a holy Furthermore, it has come to light that Azath their position and countering the allegations, to light that the conduct of the committee has been pilgrimage have threatened and tried to assault a Sally has obtained a visa at the last moment for a Azath Sally used the opportunity to make highly highly questionable and many allegations have been member of the committee. To put things into per- pilgrim in Colombo. He has obtained 200,000 rupees defamatory statements against UNP Provincial leveled about severe financial malpractices. When spective, last year operators were able to negotiate from this pilgrim and offered VVIP treatment in Councilor A. J. M. Muzammil who is also one of the looking at the facts at hand, some serious concerns facilities in Mina and Arafat for 500 Riyals. Azath return. When what was promised was not delivered signatories of this letter. Our intention is not to arise. Sally has responded to these allegations by saying by Sally, the pilgrim had threatened to expose gain any petty mileage from this episode but we 1. The committee nominated 98 operators and that he didn’t sign this agreement and that it was the Sally’s actions. In fear of this, Sally has returned would like to caution you about handing over charged a registration fee of LKR 125,000 each. In Counselor General in Saudi Arabia that signed it. In the money immediately upon his arrival in Sri responsibilities to these types of personalities. Our contrast the registration last year was LKR 50,000 that case, we would like to know if a Government Lanka. We would like to know if committee mem- earnest request is that you hold an impartial per operator. Ultimately, it is the pilgrims that have official can enter into an agreement amounting to bers are allowed to collect money by promising inquiry into this entire episode and distance your- to bear this cost. over 6 million Riyals without following tender proce- preferential treatment. It must also be brought to self and the government from any members of the 2. Usually, the negotiations with the Hajj authori- dures and looking at offers put forward by other your attention that many operators have expressed committee who may have resorted to financial mal- ties in Saudi Arabia are completed in one visit. This Muslims? in private that Sally has threatened them stating practices. UNP, SLMC on collision course over new Vanni MP UNP leaders address Muslim representatives at all level in a bid to revive Muslim unit BY SHAMINDRA FERDINANDO The SLMC is on a collision switched their there were course with the UNP over a allegiance to some plus move to influence the late MP the UPFA, points for the Noordeen Mashoor’s successor, were the UNP in Local U. L. Muthaliph Farook, to sit eight-member Authorities with the UNP parliamentary SLMC parlia- Elections group. mentary (Amendment) UNP sources say Farook group, sources Bill and Local recently met Opposition Leader said. Authorities DNA activists demand President Mahinda Rajapaksa to restore democracy and to release former Army Chief Ranil Wickremesinghe in the Close on (Special Gen. sarath Fonseka serving 36-month RI at Welikada (Photo Sujatha Jayaratne) company of WPC UNP member the heels of Ranil Provisions). A.J. M. Muzammil to discuss the dispute Attanayake his plans. over Farook, the UNP had said that the UNP had called Vanni District MP Noordeen stepped up attempts to breathe for two Amendments to the Mashoor (SLMC), who contest- life into, what sources called, Bills. Nimal to lead probe ed the last parliamentary elec- activity by Muslim politicians Muzammil urged the Moratuwa tions on April 8 on the UNP with the UNP, sources said.