Sea passenger service between India and SL

Friday, 17 December 2010 00:59 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

MoU singed for boats to ply between Colombo-Tuticorin (Thuthukudi) and Talaimannar-Rameshwaram

By Uditha Jayasinghe

Cabinet approval has been given for a sea passenger service to be established between Colombo- Tuticorin (Thuthukudi) and Talaimannar-Rameshwaram.

Media Minister Keheliya Rambekwella told the Cabinet media briefing yesterday that a large number of businessmen, holiday makers, pilgrims and students travel regularly from Sri Lanka to India and back and that steps were to be taken to establish a passenger service by sea between the two countries. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the two countries for this purpose.

As per the MoU the sea passenger services will initially be established between Colombo-Tuticorin (Thuthukudi) and Talaimannar-Rameshwaram. The Indian High Commission had in a statement issued earlier noted that the MoU would be signed by the two countries after the necessary internal processes are completed and that the ferry services between Colombo and Tuticorin and Talaimannar and Rameswaram would be initiated after the signing of the MoU.

A delegation led by Secretary of India’s Ministry of Shipping K. Mohandas visited Sri Lanka from 14-15 October to hold discussions with Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Ports and Aviation on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on passenger transportation by sea between the two countries. The Sri Lanka delegation was led by Secretary, Ministry of Ports and Aviation K.V.P. Ranjith de Silva.

The High Commission said the two sides were meeting consequent to the decision contained in the Joint Declaration issued on 9 June 2010, following the talks between Sri Lankan President and Indian Prime Minister, on the need to speedily restore the traditional links between the two countries and to resume the ferry services between Colombo and Tuticorin and between Talaimannar and Rameshwaram.