The Indo-Sri Lanka ferry service will resume operations on 13 May through a private company, The Sunday Morning learns.
A spokesperson at the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka told The Sunday Morning that the ferry service from India to Sri Lanka was scheduled to restart operations on 13 May, after a pause due to the northeastern monsoon rains at the end of last year.
The Shipping Corporation of India handled the ferry service during the previous effort in October 2023 – an Indian Government-led initiative.
“While that was paused, we were looking to change it to a commercial operation. A private company will run this route, named the ‘IndSri’ ferry, and the Government is supporting it from Nagapattinam.”
Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) Vice Chairman G.U.K. Algewattage said that they would facilitate it from the Sri Lankan side.
The revival of the 19th century Indo-Lankan ferry has been a longstanding conversation for both sides of the Palk Strait. However, issues such as low clientele and high costs have delayed these attempts.