Sivagangai completes journey in around 4 hours

The passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam in India and Kankesanthurai (KKS) near Jaffna in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka, launched in October 2023, resumed on Aug. 16.

The ferry ‘Sivagangai,’ run by a private operator, IndSri Ferry Services, completed its maiden journey between Nagapattinam and KKS in approximately 4 hours with around 50 passengers on board.

The passengers were welcomed at the KKS port by the consul general of India at Jaffna.

This resumption of ferry service is a testament to the broader effort to enhance maritime connectivity between India and Sri Lanka.

To make service more affordable for passengers, the Government of India has provided financial assistance of over LKR 25 million per month for one year to cover relevant charges and operating costs at Nagapattinam port.

Similarly, the government of Sri Lanka has reduced the deviation tax currently charged to passengers leaving Sri Lanka by passenger vessels and ships.

It should be remembered that the government of India has also extended a grant of $63.65 million to the government of Sri Lanka to rehabilitate the KKS Harbor, which was envisaged to be undertaken under a line of credit.

This aligns with India’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka’s economic recovery and its journey toward progress and prosperity in close partnership with India.

The resumption of this service underscores the commitment of both countries to strengthening bilateral relations through improved connectivity, as highlighted in the vision document for economic partnership jointly adopted during the visit of the President of Sri Lanka to India in July 2023.

Plans include exploring additional routes and services to expand connectivity and economic collaboration.b