Hajj Committee under pressure: Fresh legal blow

Colombo, January 17 (Daily Mirror) -The All Ceylon Hajj Tour Operators Association (ACHTOA) has filed a writ application (CA/Writ 007/2026) before the Court of Appeal on 2nd of January 2026, challenging decisions of the newly appointed Hajj Committee for allegedly deviating from the Hajj Guidelines approved by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.

ACHTOA, a statutorily recognized body since 1997, alleges that the Committee chaired by Mr. Riyaz Mihular unlawfully altered operator evaluation criteria and quota allocation methods, and introduced controversial procedures for Hajj 2026.

These include a mandatory escrow scheme requiring pilgrims to deposit an advance of Rs. 750,000 under a so-called profit-sharing model, where the funds allegedly remained idle while interest was attributed to pilgrims, and a financing cost of approximately Rs. 26.6 million, relating to advance funds provided by Amana Bank to operators using the flow of pilgrims’ deposits, was imposed on Hajj operators.

The petition further alleges misuse of BESSA visas, irregular licensing of operators previously barred for serious misconduct, and the adoption of a market based quota allocation system, which ACHTOA argues is incompatible with the fixed Hajj quota regime imposed by Saudi Arabia.

The application seeks multiple reliefs, including strict compliance with the Hajj Guidelines and incorporation of necessary amendments into the Hajj Act. 

It has been filed on behalf of ACHTOA by its President, Mr. M. S. H. Mohamed, through Attorney-at-Law Mr. Amila Kumara, with the guidance of President’s Counsel Mr. Sanjeewa Jayawardena.

The case names 103 respondents, including the Director of Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, members of the Hajj Committee, and the Minister and Deputy Minister in charge. Hearings on leave to proceed are scheduled for January 21, 29, and 30. The filing adds to two other pending legal challenges concerning the 2026 Hajj process, placing the allocation mechanism under intense judicial scrutiny.

The Association’s President, Mr. M. S. H. Mohamed, stated that despite government claims of being uncorrupt, so-called intellectual leaders of the Muslim community have historically dominated public institutions under the guise of expertise. Consequently, issues affecting the community, including Hajj affairs, remain unresolved, highlighting the need for governance of law, principles this government has widely promoted, in Hajj matters.