Lanka-India ferry service soon [October 19 2010]

Sri Lanka and India have agreed on a draft agreement to resume ferry services between the two countries which were disrupted by terrorism.

The agreement has been reached following a visit to Sri Lanka by a delegation led by K Mohandas, Secretary to India's Ministry of Shipping last week for talks with SriLanka's Ministry of Ports on passenger transportation by sea between the two countries.

The MoU would be signed by the two countries after the necessary internal processes are completed, following which ferry services between Colombo and Tuticorin and Talaimannar and Rameswaram will become operational.

A ferry service operated between Talaimannar on Sri Lanka's north-west coast and Rameshwaram in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu before the war against terrorism. Vanquishing terrorism has paved the way for the resumption of the ferry service as well as a new service between Colombo port and the port of Tuticorin in South India.