SAARC-ADB Meeting on SAARC Cargo and Passenger Ferry Service in Colombo from 1-2 December

At their 16th SAARC Summit held in Thimphu, Bhutan on 28-29 April 2010, the SAARC leaders called for collaborative efforts to achieve greater intra-regional connectivity and endorsed the recommendation to declare 2010-2020 as the ‘Decade of Intra-regional Connectivity in SAARC’. In line with the mandate given by the SAARC leaders, the fourth meeting of the SAARC Inter-Governmental Group on Transport held in New Delhi, India on 22 November 2010, considered the proposal of the Maldives on operating Indian Ocean Cargo and Passenger Ferry and recommended that ferry service for passengers and cargo may be launched, initially on a sub-regional basis including India, Maldives and Sri Lanka. 

Eventually, the ferry service would connect points along the South Asian coastline from Karachi to Mongla/Chittagong. The aim of the project is to provide a regular cargo and passenger ferry network promoting the idea of one SAARC, giving opportunity for sharing the rich cultures, trade and development.

Accordingly, SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu conducted a study on Indian Ocean Cargo and Passenger Ferry Service with the financial and technical assistance of Asian Development Bank, Manila.   

In order to move forward in launching the ferry service, on 1 December 2016, L.P. Jayampathy, Secretary of the Ministry of Ports and Shipping, Government of Sri Lanka will inaugurate the SAARC-ADB Meeting of Experts from India, Maldives and Sri Lanka to be held in Colombo on 1-2 December 2016 to review the Study on SAARC Cargo and Passenger Ferry Service. The Meeting will be organised by the Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of Sri Lanka and SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu with the support of ADB. The inaugural session of the meeting will also be addressed by Ceylon Shipping Corporation Ltd. Chairman Shashi Dhanatunge and Director, Energy, Transport and Science and Technology, SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu Ali Haider Altaf. 

Representatives of the private sector in Sri Lanka willing to operate ferry service have been invited to share their experiences in the Meeting. SAARC Development Fund (SDF) Chief Executive Officer Dr. Sunil Motiwal is also expected to attend the meeting and discuss prospects of co-funding for launching the much-awaited ferry service in the region. An expert from Global Maritime and Ports Services Ltd. (GMAPS), Singapore which conducted the study will also be attending the meeting to make a presentation on the study and to answer queries of the participants from Member States.

It has been proposed that initially the ferry may connect ports at Malé, Cochin, Tuticorin and Colombo. All technical details and routes would be discussed during the above meeting.

The study group intends to handover the finalised report at the end of the session to the Minister of Ports and Shipping Arjuna Ranatunga and the Director SAARC Secretariat at a special ceremony on 2 December at Hilton Colombo Residences.