Colombo: Passenger ferry services between India's Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai (KKS) suburb of Sri Lanka's northern province of Jaffna district are scheduled to resume on May 13, the Indian High Commission said on Monday.
The service, which was started in October last year after almost 40 years, was stopped after a few days due to bad weather.
“Strengthening maritime connectivity between India and Sri Lanka was an important component of the vision document for economic partnership jointly adopted during the visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India in July 2023. The resumption of the ferry service is an affirmation of the people-centric policies of the Government of India,” the High Commission said in a statement.
India's future connectivity plans with Sri Lanka include setting up electricity grid interconnection, two-way multi-purpose pipeline and LAN Connectivity Economic Corridor, the statement said.
India has also extended grant assistance of US$63.65 million – the entire project cost – to Sri Lanka for the rehabilitation of Kankesanthurai Port in the Northern Province.
"This is in keeping with India's strong commitment towards improving Sri Lanka's economy and closer cooperation with India, as well as towards progress and prosperity," the statement said.
Located in the northern region of Sri Lanka, Kankesanthurai Port or KK Port, with an area of approximately 16 acres, is located at a distance of 10 kilometers (56 nautical miles) from Karaikal Port in Pondicherry.
The direct passenger ship service connecting Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu to Kankesanthurai port near Jaffna covers the distance of 111 kilometers (60 nautical miles) in about three and a half hours.
The ferry service will be operated by a private operator, Indashree Ferry Services, selected by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) in consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL).
The service, which was started in October last year after almost 40 years, was stopped after a few days due to bad weather.
“Strengthening maritime connectivity between India and Sri Lanka was an important component of the vision document for economic partnership jointly adopted during the visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India in July 2023. The resumption of the ferry service is an affirmation of the people-centric policies of the Government of India,” the High Commission said in a statement.
India's future connectivity plans with Sri Lanka include setting up electricity grid interconnection, two-way multi-purpose pipeline and LAN Connectivity Economic Corridor, the statement said.
India has also extended grant assistance of US$63.65 million – the entire project cost – to Sri Lanka for the rehabilitation of Kankesanthurai Port in the Northern Province.
"This is in keeping with India's strong commitment towards improving Sri Lanka's economy and closer cooperation with India, as well as towards progress and prosperity," the statement said.
Located in the northern region of Sri Lanka, Kankesanthurai Port or KK Port, with an area of approximately 16 acres, is located at a distance of 10 kilometers (56 nautical miles) from Karaikal Port in Pondicherry.
The direct passenger ship service connecting Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu to Kankesanthurai port near Jaffna covers the distance of 111 kilometers (60 nautical miles) in about three and a half hours.
The ferry service will be operated by a private operator, Indashree Ferry Services, selected by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) in consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL).
