India-Sri Lanka Ferry Services Resumes Between Nagapattinam and Jaffna. Check Tickets Prices

The ferry, named ‘Sivagangai,’ successfully completed its inaugural journey between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai (KKS) in Jaffna, the capital of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.

In conjunction with the resumption, India has extended grant assistance of over USD 63 million to Sri Lanka to upgrade the KKS harbour, further facilitating the renewed service.

Source : Pixabay

In a significant development for India-Sri Lanka relations, the passenger ferry service between the two nations resumed on Friday, marking a major milestone in enhancing maritime connectivity. The Indian High Commission highlighted the importance of this step in strengthening bilateral ties, fostering people-to-people connections, and boosting economic collaboration.

The ferry, named ‘Sivagangai,’ successfully completed its inaugural journey between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai (KKS) in Jaffna, the capital of Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. The journey covers a distance of approximately 60 nautical miles (110 km) and takes about 3.5 hours, depending on sea conditions, according to a report on PTI.

For one-way trip, the ticket prices are Rs 5000 for economy class and Rs 7,500 for premium economy, as reported by Times of India. 

This resumption comes after a several month hiatus. The restoration of this route had been anticipated since May 2023, when Sri Lankan Aviation Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva announced the intention to restart the service. However, the launch faced multiple delays due to technical issues pushing to October 2023.

The resumption in October 2023 last year came after 41 years hiatus. However, suffered setbacks due to technical issues. 

In conjunction with the resumption, India has extended grant assistance of over USD 63 million to Sri Lanka to upgrade the KKS harbour, further facilitating the renewed service.

Historically, the Palk Strait has served as a vital link for cultural and trade exchanges between the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka, with people traversing the waters for thousands of years. The restoration of this ferry service not only revives this ancient connection but also promises to enhance the contemporary relationship between the two nations.