By MD RASOOLDEEN | ARAB NEWS
COLOMBO: The Kingdom donated 150 metric tons of dates to Sri Lanka last week for distribution at mosques during the coming holy month of Ramadan.
Ministry of Finance official Mansour Al-Yousef handed the consignment at a simple ceremony at the Saudi Embassy in Colombo on Friday to Abdul Hameed Mohammed Fowzie, Sri Lankan senior minister for urban affairs, in the presence of Farouk Mohamed Wazeer Ali, charge d’affaires of the mission.
Others present included Abdul Hameed Mohammed Azwer, Muslim parliamentarian; Y. L. M. Navavi, director of the Department of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs; and Hashim Omar, director of Independent Television Network.
Ali said this was a regular donation the Kingdom had been giving to Sri Lanka for several years.
“We have been maintaining close relations with Sri Lankan Muslims and other community members in a friendly manner,” he said.
Fowzie said: “We are happy that the dates gifted by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will be freely consumed by Muslims during their iftar (breaking of the fast). Those Muslims will always pray for prosperity in the Kingdom and the longevity of King Abdullah.”
Fowzie added that plans were under way to distribute these dates at all mosques throughout the country.
Mansour Al-Yousef, official from the Ministry of Finance, right, hands over the consignment of dates to Abdul Hameed Mohammed Fowzie, senior minister for urban affairs, center, in Colombo on Friday. Farouk Mohamed Wazeer Ali, charge d' affaires of the Saudi mission in Colombo is on the left. (AN photo)
Categories: Asia, Islam, Saudi Arabia