Ferry Services to Resume Between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai; Boost to India-Sri Lanka Connectivity

Ferry services between Nagapattinam, India, and Kankesanthurai, Sri Lanka, are set to resume this year, enhancing connectivity between the two countries. Sri Lanka is also repairing Talaimannar pier to reconnect it with Rameswaram. The high-speed ferry will reduce travel time, with improved facilities at both ports.

Ferry services between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka will recommence this year, according to Geshan Dissanayake, Minister Commercial of the island nation's High Commission in India. The resumption aims to boost connectivity between the two neighboring countries, with optimism from both sides, Dissanayake expressed at the third Outbound Tourism Summit organised by FICCI in New Delhi.

Dissanayake revealed that the Talaimannar pier, historically a critical passageway between India and Sri Lanka, is under repair. Once reconstructed, it will facilitate travel from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka. "Currently, we are resuming ferry services from Nagapattinam to Kankesanthurai. Repairs at Talaimannar Pier will eventually enable the traditional route from Rameswaram," he noted.

The Nagapattinam-Kankesanthurai ferry was reintroduced on October 14, 2023, but operations ceased shortly after due to adverse weather conditions. With a capacity of 150 passengers and a travel duration of approximately 3.5 hours, the high-speed ferry by the Shipping Corporation of India aims to streamline travel. Infrastructure enhancements at both ports support this renewed venture.

Further developments include the promotion of tourism between India and Sri Lanka, with particular emphasis on MICE tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) and destination weddings. These efforts seek to leverage the historical and cultural ties between the two countries while enhancing bilateral connections.

Regarding the ongoing maritime dispute involving Indian fishermen, both sides remain engaged in diplomatic dialogues for a resolution. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) affirmed that efforts are being made to safeguard Indian fishermen's welfare, despite the political sensitivities surrounding the issue.

(With inputs from agencies.)