New ferry service between Tuticorin and Colombo flagged off
By Manjula FERNANDO
|
Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena, Foreign Secretary K.
Amunugama and Ports Authority Chairman, Dr Priyath Bandu
Wickrema on arrival of the Scotia Prince
|
|
The Scotia Prince anchored in Sri Lankan waters
The Maha Sangha blessing the crew on its maiden voyage
Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardena and Indian High
Commissioner celebrating the resumption of the ferry service |
The much-awaited ferry service linking Sri Lanka and India completed
its maiden voyage on Tuesday.
The liner Scortia Prince carrying 200 guests from India arrived at
the Colombo Harbour on Tuesday completing a nine-hour journey from -
Tuticorin Port. The voyage marked a historic moment on growing relations
between the two countries.
Indian Union Minister of Shipping G.K. Vasan flagged off Scotia
Prince on Monday at Tuticorin. With over 150 nautical miles between
Tuticorin and Colombo which is an entirely different route to the
original ferry service 30 years ago, which was from Tuticorin to
Talaimannar.
The ferry services between the two countries were resumed as a result
of an understanding between the Indian Prime Minister and Sri Lanka
President in June 2010, when President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited India.
Indian High Commissioner in Colombo Ashok K. Kantha and Ports and
Highways Deputy Minister Rohitha Abeygunawardana participated in the
ceremony at the passenger terminal in Colombo and welcomed the first
passengers. The ferry service which will be a boon to cross-border
tourism ensures a convenient and low cost mode of transport especially
for less affluent travellers and pilgrims.
The vessel operated by an Indian company, Flemingo Lines can carry
over 1000 passengers on board and will make two journeys per week. The
Ceylon Shipping Corporation is expected to deploy another ferry within a
month to cater to the demand that is expected to grow.
|
Indian Union Minister of Shipping G.K. Vasan flags off Scotia
Prince in Tuticorin |
The basic fare for the journey will be Indian Rs. 2,243 per person in
economy class and it will be higher for passengers travelling in first
class, according to the ship's agents. The ferry has scheduled trips to
Colombo on Mondays and Fridays and to Tuticorin from Colombo on
Wednesdays and Sundays.
According to the Indian media, although a Memorandum of Understanding
was signed by the Sri Lankan and Indian governments in October last
year, the commencement of the ferry service was delayed as New Delhi had
to deploy the ships to ferry stranded Indian expatriates home from
Libya.
The vessel also houses specialised cabins for the disabled. A second
sea route voyage between the old route Talaimannar in Northern Sri Lanka
and Rameshwaram in South India is also being contemplated by officials
of the two countries.
Although Tamil Nadu's new Chief Minister opposed the move to restore
the ferry link, the two countries agreed to re-commence the ferry
services in order to restore the traditional links and connectivity
between the two countries.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two Governments
on January 7 this year to start the services.
 |
 |
|
A cabin |
Dining area of Scotia Prince
Pix courtesy The Hindu |
|
