Sri Lanka and India in a bid to increase tourism and trade relations will soon launch two ferry services between the two countries.
Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation, Nimal Siripala de Silva said the first ferry service will be operated between Karaikal Port in Puducherry, India and Kankesanturai (KKS).
This is scheduled to commence in a few months.
“The Sri Lankan Navy has started constructing a passenger dock in the Kankesanturai area for this passenger shipping service between India and Sri Lanka. When completed people can travel from Sri Lanka to India in about 4 hours by ship.
Sri Lanka Ports Authority too has provided RS. 140 million for this construction work. “As the credit line from India for this construction is insufficient, an additional credit facility of USD 16 million has been requested from the Indian Exim Bank,” the Minister said.
Sri Lanka and India are countries that have for several centuries mainlined very close political, trade, cultural and religious ties since ancient times. Travel links between the two countries are very close and launch of these services will provide both countries a lot of new opportunities to develop their respective tourism sectors and also trade specially among the SME sectors.”
The proposed Sri Lanka-India passenger ship service will further increase the transport links between the two countries. The proposed one-way ticket from Karaikal region of South India to Kankesanturai (KKS) will be USD 50 and each passenger traveling on the ship can carry up to 100 kg luggage. About 150 passengers can travel in one ship at a time and Travel time is around four hours.
Meanwhile, discussions with an investor from India to construct a harbor in Talaimannar have been successful, said Minister Nimal Siripala De Silva. Deputy High Commissioner of India Vinod K. Jacob too participated in this discussion with the Indian investor.
This would be mainly to launch a second ferry service between Dhanushkody and Rameshwaram in India and Talaimannar.
A large number of Hindu pilgrims from India already come to Sri Lanka to visit religious places like Seethaiyamman Temple in Nuwara Eliya and Rampai Anjaneyar Temple and other similar places and this ferry service will further increase these numbers as such pilgrims will now have to pay a lesser amount for their travel than travelling by air. They can also visit tourist areas of Jaffna.
Similarly, a large number of travelers go from Sri Lanka for Indian tourism and to visit the religious places in India. “They too can now pay less for travel via this avail passenger ferry service.”
Therefore, the Sri Lanka-India passenger ship service will give a huge boost for tourism, trade and cultural exchange between the two countries.
This passenger ship service is eagerly awaited by the people of both countries and it will also provide an opportunity to generate income through tourism for Sri Lanka which is suffering from an economic crisis.
Earlier there were two services between Colombo and Tuticorin and between Talaimannar and Rameshwaram. These were suspended in 1982 due to the civil war.
It is believed that the two proposed ferry services between Sri Lanka-India passengers will provide a great opportunity for both countries to develop their respective tourism sectors and increase trade relations.
“It is significant that this kind of service was conducted 30 years ago. Now is the time to resume these passenger ferry service after 30 years and the launch of a new passenger ferry service between Sri Lanka and India will lead to the re-establishment of traditional links between the two countries,” Minister said.