Colombo: The resumption of passenger ferry service between India's Nagapattinam and the Kankesanthurai area near Sri Lanka's northern province of Jaffna has again been delayed indefinitely, Aviation Minister Neema Siripala de Silva has said.
De Silva on Wednesday said the passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai (KKS) suburb of Jaffna district, which was scheduled to resume on May 13, was delayed due to "technical glitches".
The nature of the "technical deficiency" was not disclosed by the minister.
The service, which was started in October last year after almost 40 years, was stopped after a few days due to bad weather.
Since then, the resumption of the service, which is a vital component of India-Sri Lanka maritime cooperation, has been delayed thrice.
India has also extended grant assistance of USD 63.65 million – the entire project cost – to Sri Lanka for the rehabilitation of Kankesanthurai Port in the Northern Province.
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).
De Silva on Wednesday said the passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai (KKS) suburb of Jaffna district, which was scheduled to resume on May 13, was delayed due to "technical glitches".
The nature of the "technical deficiency" was not disclosed by the minister.
The service, which was started in October last year after almost 40 years, was stopped after a few days due to bad weather.
Since then, the resumption of the service, which is a vital component of India-Sri Lanka maritime cooperation, has been delayed thrice.
India has also extended grant assistance of USD 63.65 million – the entire project cost – to Sri Lanka for the rehabilitation of Kankesanthurai Port in the Northern Province.
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).
