Indo-Lanka ferry service to begin soon

The much-delayed Colombo-Tuticorin passenger ferry service, which was to start on Friday, has been postponed at the request of Sri Lankan authorities.

An official of the Ceylon Shipping Corporation (CSC) said the inaugural ceremony will be held in a week's time. However, other reports claim that the service would begin only in the first week of June.

For the time being, an Indian ship would ply the route. Eventually, a Sri Lankan ship would be joining it, the official said.

Indian and Lankan traders and Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims are expected to make use of the service. About 100,000 people might use the facility in a year.

Executive director of the CSC, A.T. Chandradasa has been quoted as saying that initially, there would be two sailings per week, which would be increased if there was demand.

The fare is yet to be fixed, but the media has quoted Deputy Minister for Shipping and Aviation Rohitha Abeygunawardene as saying that the fare for the 10 to 12-hour journey over 280 nautical miles would be 30 percent less than the air fare between Colombo and Chennai.

A passenger would also be allowed to carry 80 to 100 kg as baggage, he said.

Passenger terminals with Customs and security facilities had to be created afresh at both Colombo and Tuticorin, as passenger services were being revived after a long gap.

The Tuticorin-Colombo ferry service was postponed before too due to technical reasons and there was diversion as well of the earmarked Indian vessel to evacuate Indians stranded in war-torn Libya.

A second ferry service between Rameswaram and Talaimannar is expected to start by year-end.

- Express Buzz