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Colombo-Tuticorin ferry service soon
Tuesday, 10 June 2003, 19:30 IST
COLOMBO: A ferry service that once connected Sri Lanka with neighbouring India will recommence shortly with the Indian cabinet sanctioning a proposal to revive it.
The service, originally scheduled to start in November last year to strengthen trade links and offer a cheaper more of travel to those wishing to commute between the countries, was put on hold till India gave the green light.
"It will create a great window of opportunity for bilateral trade," said Ports Minister Rauff Hakeem, currently in Japan attending a crucial aid conference.
The two nations, separated by a narrow stretch of sea, have enjoyed a historic relationship for over 3,000 years. They signed a memorandum of understanding last year and are eager to finalise operational strategy, ports ministry officials said.
The ferry service will be between Colombo and Tuticorin in the state of Tamil Nadu, providing an ideal opportunity for tourists, pilgrims, and others to travel to Sri Lanka without the usual constraints associated with air travel.
Tuticorin port officials said the port was strategically placed and was close to many international sea routes. It is also well connected to other trade centres scattered around Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
Officials also said the ferry service would ensure more sea traffic from India, and this would be a welcome step in forging more links with the island's giant neighbour. "We will explore possibilities of expanding the ferry service and look at other Indian ports afterwards," an official said.
"These two countries have been closely linked in many ways. Our cultural, religious and trade connections need to be further strengthened, especially in the light of the truce between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)," Hakeem added.
He said the ferry fair and the visa-free entry to the country should attract Indians vastly. The ferry service, operated by the private sector, could accommodate 300 passengers on each ferry.
The service was abandoned 20 years ago when civil war broke out in Sri Lanka. With the signing of a truce with Tamil Tigers in February 24 last year, Hakeem met Indian authorities to pursue the resumption of the service.
N.K. Raghupathy, the Tuticorin Port Trust chairman, and N.K. Java, director of operations, Merchant Shipping of India, have visited the island to finalise operational aspects.
Colombo Port was recently upgraded with special amenities being provided at the passenger terminal and new features have been introduced to expedite clearance and immigration of passengers.
The thrice a week, six hour sea journey will cost only one third of the regular airfare from Chennai to Colombo, and includes a baggage allowance of 75 kg.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is keen to expand the ferry service to reach other ports of India also. Both countries are to shortly set up a joint committee for efficient implementation of the agreement that will remain in force for five years.
Source: IANS
Source: IANS