The mishap that occurred to 3,500 Sri Lankan Muslim pilgrims in the holy land of Mina

Reports reveal that 3,500 Sri Lankan Muslim devotees, who had hoped to make the four-day stay in tents in the holy land of Mina the most sublime spiritual experience of their lives, have this time faced a disappointing and bitter experience. Due to being left helpless under extremely difficult conditions, even deprived of basic human necessities, these devotees are suffering greatly, and this clearly demonstrates the serious weaknesses and moral breakdown in the governance systems of the responsible authorities.

Behind this entire crisis is the Sri Lanka Hajj Committee's unilateral decision, without any advice from experienced local travel agents, to assign this responsibility to the travel company named 'Rehlat Wa Manafe'.

Every devotee who participated in this pilgrimage paid a high value of LKR 562,000 expecting top-tier 'Category A' services and facilities. However, it is noteworthy that what they actually received were 'Category C' tent facilities, which are of the lowest standard and worth less than half the amount they paid. It is clear that by providing services of a much lower quality than promised, the organizers have severely misled the pilgrims.

The problem with sanitation facilities can be pointed out as the most regrettable aspect of this disaster. For the entire group of 3,500 pilgrims, only a very limited number of 32 toilets have been allocated, and these same units have to be used for bathing as well. According to calculations, only one toilet is available for every 100 pilgrims, and even if one person takes a mere five minutes, an individual gets the opportunity to use a toilet only twice a day at most. Due to this, elderly and sick pilgrims have been forced to wait in queues for hours under the intense sun.

The food supply process has also failed similarly, with only two buffet lines allocated for this large, exhausted crowd. One is designated for men and the other for women. Devotees returning from religious rituals in the harsh desert climate also have to endure great hardship in long queues to get food, and ultimately, they receive a meal of very poor quality that is completely inedible.

The intense anger of the suffering people has been caused by this arbitrary and hypocritical conduct of the authorities. While ordinary people were fainting due to extreme heat and hunger, members of the Hajj Committee reportedly refused even to visit these common tents to inquire about their well-being. Instead, they are reported to have stayed in air-conditioned private VIP cabins, equipped with all comforts, enjoying luxurious services. Misappropriating funds allocated for the safety of the devotees and causing them such inconvenience in a foreign land can be considered both financial fraud and a violation of human rights. For these reasons, a strong opinion has emerged that all five members of the Sri Lanka Hajj Committee should take full responsibility for this failure and resign from their positions immediately.