‘SL keen to resume ferry with India’

“There was a ferry service between the tip of South India and to the northern part of Sri Lanka. It was not only to carry people but also cargo between the two countries. But, the service was abandoned. The infrastructure still remains,” Sri Lanka Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Christian Religious Affairs John Amaratunga said.

According to him, the ferry service was operational between Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu and Talaimannar. The Minister said he undertook a visit to the Talaimannar pier were the infrastructure was still present. “It is from the South Indian side (Rameswaram) that efforts need to be taken up”.

Amaratunga was talking to reporters at the sidelines of an event organised by Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau here. Noting that the ferry service was in existence in the “good old days”, he said, adding certain problems occurred both in Sri Lanka and India leading to the service getting abandoned.“Now, I am taking the initiative to resume the service,” he said.