COLOMBO, June 14 -- The allocation of special Hajj visas issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the use of state funds related to Sri Lanka's annual pilgrimage have come under renewed scrutiny following disclosures obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

Documents released by provincial religious affairs authorities raise questions over the distribution of 35 'Besa' visas allocated to Sri Lanka for the 2026 Hajj season, as well as the disbursement of funds to officials and committee members involved in pilgrimage-related activities.

According to official records, the visas were issued on the recommendations of the Hajj and Umrah committees and approved by the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. A 'Be...