Tamil Nadu And Northern Sri Lanka Resume Ferry Ops After 40 Years

Tamil Nadu and northern Sri Lanka are set to re-establish a sea route connection after a hiatus of more than 40 years, with a passenger ferry service launch on October 10. This initiative marks a significant step towards enhancing people-to-people interactions between the neighbouring regions.

Managed by the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), this ferry service will cover a distance of 60 nautical miles between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai, located near Jaffna, the capital of northern Sri Lanka, completing the journey in approximately three hours.

The SCI plans to deploy the high-speed craft known as Cheriyapani for this service. In a statement, the SCI expressed that this service presents an excellent opportunity for the citizens of India and Sri Lanka to embark on an affordable trip to Jaffna and Tamil Nadu, further strengthening the historical ties between the two nations.

Fare and Other Details

The anticipated one-way fare for passengers is approximately INR 7,670, and travellers will be entitled to a 40 kg free baggage allowance. As part of its inaugural journey, the vessel will reportedly leave Nagapattinam at 10 am and begin its return journey from Kankesanthurai at 3 pm.

This development follows months of deliberation between both countries, leading to the decision to revive passenger ferry services between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai.

The ferry service, which can reportedly accomodate 150 passengers, has been resumed around 12 years after a memorandum of understanding was signed between the two countries.

Reports suggest that there is also an ongoing effort to resume ferry services between Rameswaram and Talaimannar, as discussed during the visit of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe in July of this year.

History

The passenger ferry service between Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu and Talaimannar in northern Sri Lanka ceased operations in 1982 due to the onset of a civil war in Sri Lanka. Subsequently, the UPA-II government initiated a ferry service between Thoothukudi and Colombo, though briefly, lasting only five months.

After many years, the revival of the passenger ferry service to northern Sri Lanka will offer an alternative transportation option for individuals travelling from Tamil Nadu to Jaffna.