In a significant development, India and Sri Lanka have taken a major step in fortifying their diplomatic and economic relations with the launch of a new ferry service between Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and Kankesanthurai in Sri Lanka. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed this achievement as a milestone that symbolises the deep historical and cultural connections between the two nations.
The ferry service was inaugurated by India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, who flagged off the inaugural voyage. External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar also participated in the event virtually, highlighting the importance of this development in enhancing ties between the neighboring countries.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Prime Minister Modi emphasised the rich history of cultural and commercial exchanges that India and Sri Lanka share. He noted that Nagapattinam and its neighboring towns have a long history of sea trade with various countries, including Sri Lanka. Historical references in ancient Tamil literature, such as Pattinappalai and Manimekalai, underscore the longstanding maritime connections between the two nations.
The Prime Minister also mentioned the poetic reference to a bridge connecting India and Sri Lanka in the work of the great poet Subramania Bharti, highlighting the cultural and historical significance of this new ferry service.
Prime Minister Modi stressed that connectivity extends beyond bringing cities closer; it brings the countries, people, and hearts closer together. Enhanced connectivity has the potential to boost trade, tourism, and people-to-people ties, and it offers opportunities for the youth of both nations.
The Prime Minister recalled the progress made in transport connectivity between India and Sri Lanka since 2015. This includes the launch of direct flights between Delhi and Colombo, the first international flight landing in the pilgrim town of Kushinagar from Sri Lanka, and the commencement of a direct flight between Chennai and Jaffna in 2019. The ferry service between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai represents another significant step in this direction.
The ferry service promises to reduce travel time between Nagapattinam and Kankesanthurai to just 30 minutes, significantly enhancing ease of access between the two nations. To facilitate this service, the Indian government invested in dredging the Nagapattinam harbor, with a cost of approximately Rs 3 crore.
The launch of this ferry service marks an important moment in the bilateral relations between India and Sri Lanka. It underscores the commitment of both nations to foster stronger ties, boost economic cooperation, and promote cultural exchanges. As the ferry service opens up new opportunities for collaboration, it is expected to create a positive impact on trade, tourism, and the people-to-people connections that have flourished between these two neighboring countries throughout history.