Ferry service between TN, KKS finally commences from 12

The much awaited and long overdue passenger ferry service linking Sri Lanka with India will recommence Thursday (12) when a service will start connecting India’s Nagapattinam and Sri Lanka’s Kankesanthurai (KKS). A trial session for the service was conducted on August 8.

This is the second international connectivity to Jaffna first being Chennai Jaffna daily flights operated by Alliance Air. Ports, Shipping and Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that

this was planned almost six months before but was delayed due to various reasons. The Minister emphasized that the initiation of the passenger ferry service was the result of extensive discussions between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation of Sri Lanka.

As per the schedule, the passenger vessel Cheriyapani is set to depart from Nagapattinam Port to Kankesanthurai Port today at 12:30 PM. The maiden voyage will carry 50 passengers and the vessel is scheduled to return to Nagapattinam at 4 PM on the same day. The high-speed vessel measuring 35 meters in length and 9.6 meters in height is owned by the Shipping Corporation of India (S.C.I) and has a capacity of accommodating 150 passengers. The journey from Nagapattinam to Kankesanthurai Port is estimated to take approximately four hours, with a one-way ticket costing 26,750 Sri Lankan rupees and a round trip ticket priced at 53,500 Sri Lankan rupees.

The operators of the passenger ferry service have indicated that each passenger is allowed to carry up to 50 kilograms of luggage. The operation and marketing of this ferry service are managed by the Sri Lankan company; Asha Agency Ltd,; and a ticket sales agent has also been appointed in the city of Jaffna.

Minister de Silva highlighted that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) has invested Rs. 450 million to construct a modern passenger terminal at the Port of Kankesanthurai. This terminal is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including provisions for immigration, customs, and health services.

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