“PM Modi Hails ‘New Chapter’ as India and Sri Lanka Resume Ferry Service After 40 Years”
"Reviving Maritime Connections: India-Sri Lanka Ferry Service Inaugurated"
“Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe inaugurated a ferry service that connects India and Sri Lanka on Saturday, nearly 40 years after the last service was disrupted due to war in the island nation.
The service was initially planned to resume on October 10, 2023, but due to some administrative issues, it had to be rescheduled for October 14, 2023.
The motto of this project is not only to expand tourism and trade in both countries but also to connect people in both countries. As both country leaders mentioned in their video message, Modi said, “We are embarking on a new chapter in the diplomatic and economic relations between India and Sri Lanka. The service brings alive all historical and cultural connections, recalling the song ‘Sindhu Nadhiyin Misai’ by the iconic Tamil poet Subramania Bharati, which depicts the relationship between the two countries. Additionally, he added, ‘Connectivity is not only about bringing two cities closer. It also brings our countries closer, our people closer, and our hearts closer.’
On the other hand, Sri Lankan President said that before the service was discontinued due to war in the North, ‘Now peace has returned, and we can re-establish sea connectivity.’ He then thanked Modi and the Indian Shipping Corporation ‘for the role they have played in re-establishing this connectivity.’
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A new service connecting Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu, India, and Kankesanthurai in northern Sri Lanka aims to revive their ancient maritime connection.
On its inaugural journey, the vessel named Cheriyapani traveled with 50 passengers to Sri Lanka and will return to India by evening with passengers from the island nation. The passengers on the maiden voyage expressed joy over sailing to Sri Lanka.
State Ministers E V Velu and S Raghupathy virtually flagged off the first ferry service.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended the inauguration virtually of the ferry service, a strategic initiative, emphasizing its role in boosting people-to-people contacts and supporting India’s ‘neighborhood first’ policy by enhancing connectivity and cooperation.”
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