Neighbours first: India resumes ferry service to Sri Lanka after more than four decades
Sri Lanka restarted a ferry service between Nagappatinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai (KKS) near Jaffna on Saturday—nearly four decades after it was suspended--as part of efforts to put in place connectivity initiatives that would push South Asian integration.
A vessel named ‘Cheriyapani’ left Nagappatinam for Kankesanthurai with 50 passengers and was scheduled to return by evening with passengers from Sri Lanka.
The ferry service initiative was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesignhe during the latter’s visit to India in July.
The high-speed ferry, operated by the Shipping Corporation of India, has a capacity of 150 passengers. It can cover the distance of about 60 nm (110 Km) between Nagapattinam and KKS in about three and a half hours under good weather conditions, officials said.
Ferry services between India and Sri Lanka were suspended in the 1980s for security reasons.
In May 2011, aferry service was launched between Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu and Colombo in Sri Lanka. However, it was suspended six months later due to lack of commercial viability and longer travel time.
Saturday’s launch event was addressed by Modi and Wickremesignhe through a video message.
