Sri Lanka, May 17 -- Muslims in Sri Lanka will celebrate the Haj festival (Eid al-Adha) on 28 May, the Colombo Grand Mosque has announced.

The Colombo Grand Mosque and the Moon Sighting Committee have stated that the crescent moon for the month of Dhul Hijjah -the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar- has not been sighted in Sri Lanka today and therefore May 19 will mark the first day of the new month.

Accordingly, the Hajj festival will be observed on Thursday, 28 May, as it always falls on the 10th day of Dhul Hijjah while, the Arafat Day will be observed on Wednesday, 27 May.

The festival commemorates the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim's (Abraham) son as an act of respect to the divine.

Eid al-Adha, the second most sign...