The passenger ferry service between Tuticorin in India and Colombo in Sri Lanka that was flagged off yesterday at Tuticorin by Hon. G.K. Vasan, Minister of Shipping, Government of India arrived in Colombo this morning. The High Commissioner of India, H.E. Ahsok K. Kantha, participated in a ceremony organized at the passenger terminal at the Colombo Port to mark the occasion of the arrival of the passenger ferry service.

High Commissioner Kantha and Hon. Rohitha Abegunawardena, Deputy Minister of Ports and Highways of Sri Lanka, inaugurated the passenger terminal and visited the vessel ‘Scotia Prince’. Speaking on the occasion, the High Commissioner said that it was a historic occasion for the two countries. He said that ferry services between the two countries were being resumed after about 30 years as a result of an understanding between the Prime Minister of India and the President of Sri Lanka in June 2010 when President Rajapaksa visited India. On that occasion, it had been agreed to start the ferry services between Colombo and Tuticorin and between Talaimannar and Rameswaram in order to speedily restore the traditional links and connectivity between the two countries. A Memorandum of Understanding had been signed between the two government on 7 January 2011 to start the services. High Commissioner Kantha stated that the arrival of ferry from Tuticorin represented a concrete outcome of the understanding between the leaders of the two countries. He added that the ferry service will give a fillip to tourism and trade and strengthen cultural ties between the two countries.

The passenger ferry service between Talaimannar and Rameswaram will commence once the requisite infrastructure is put in place on both sides.

Colombo