Sri Lanka looks to resume ferry service with India

By APD writer Easwaran

COLOMBO, Oct. 4 (APD) -- Sri Lanka on Wednesday said it was looking to resume a ferry service between Sri Lanka and India.

The Sri Lankan government is to call for fresh Expressions Of Interests (EOIS) to resume the ferry service, Ports and Shipping Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe told the Asia Pacific Daily.

Expressions of interests had been called for earlier but a positive response had not been received.

As a result a proposal made by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe to cancel the current procurement process and to recall EOIS, has been approved by the cabinet.

The Indo-Lanka ferry service was suspended in 2012.

In 2015 India said it was prepared to resume the operation of a ferry service between Colombo and Tuticorin and it was up to the Sri Lankan government to take a final decision in this connection.

Recently the administration in the south Indian Tamil Nadu state made fresh efforts to re-establish sea links with Sri Lanka.

The state government wrote to the ministry of external affairs in India to take steps to resume the ferry service between both countries.

The British began the first ferry service between Sri Lanka and India in 1914. The route was patronised by both Indian and Lankan traders and tourists.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)