Sri Lanka expects to tap tourism niche, trade with India ferry service

ECONOMYNEXT – Sri Lanka is expecting widen tourism and trade links with the start of a ferry service between the two countries from April 29, which is cheaper than air travel and has a higher baggage allowance officials said.

Sri Lanka’s Ports Ministry has started to build a passenger terminal in Kankasanthurai (KKS) port in the northern Jaffna peninsula with the help of the Sri Lanka Navy at a cost of 144 million rupees to support the ferry service.

The ferry service will operate between KKS and Karaikal Port in Pondicherry, India.

“There are private ferry owners who operate the services, and at the moment, there only three ferry operators,” Viraj Abeysinghe, the Media Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation, told Economy Next.

“However, we, as a ministry, provide infrastructure facilities only. A ferry will carry 150 passengers at a time and will take around a 4-hour journey from Karaikal Port to KKS Port.”

The charges will start from 50 US dollars per passenger for a one-way trip, which is roughly around 16,075 rupees, and a baggage allowance of 100 kilos will be permitted.

“The ferry service will cater to a different sector of the market because it is going to be cheaper than traveling by air,” Priyantha Fernando, Chairman of Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority, told Economy Next.

“So we are opening up to a different segment of the market, and it will definitely make a positive contribution.

“This will definitely help tourism, and it will also help commercial activity because the baggage allowance is much greater, and there will be trade taking place between India and Sri Lanka.”

Entrepreneurs from Sri Lanka and India are encouraged to join this opportunity.

The service will also open up the way for export and imports for cheaper prices, which can indirectly benefit the country, he said. (Colombo/Apr21/2023)

Sri Lanka expects to tap tourism niche, trade with India ferry service