RIYADH, 26 September 2006 — The Kingdom has donated 100 metric tons of dates to the Muslims of Sri Lanka on the advent of Ramadan, which started yesterday on the island country.

Saudi Ambassador to Sri Lanka Mohammed Mahmud Al-Ali handed over the dates to Abdul Hameed Mohammed Fowzie, minister of transport, railway, petroleum and petroleum resources, during a ceremony at the ministry’s headquarters in Colombo.

“We are thankful to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for this timely gift for the deserving Muslims in the island,” Fowzie told Arab News by telephone.

The dates will be distributed to the victims of the December 2004 Asian tsunami, Muslim orphans and 50,000 Muslims in Mutur who have been displaced due to Tamil rebel attacks in the eastern parts of the country. The tsunami killed an estimated 32,000 Muslims and rendered more than 400,000 homeless in Sri Lanka. The International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) and Saudi Red Crescent Society (SRCS) continue to provide rebuilding assistance in Sri Lanka.

Al-Ali said Fowzie distributed 20 tons of dates to the Mutur Muslims yesterday. “The remaining dates will reach the deserving Muslims in other parts of the island in the coming days,” he added. “The ministry had chalked out a comprehensive plan for quick distribution.”

While offering his Ramadan greetings to the people in the Kingdom, Sri Lankan Ambassador in Riyadh A.M.J Sadiq thanked the Saudi government for the donation.

Al-Ali said he hosted a massive reception in Colombo’s Trans Asia Hotel to mark Saudi Arabia’s National Day on Saturday. More than 500 guests, including ministers, senior government officials and representatives from youth organizations attended the function.