Mano Ganesan, Minister of National Integration, official languages, social progress and Hindu Religious Affairs, Government of Sri Lanka conveyed that officials from his country and India are in discussion to resume ferry services which were once active. The minister who was in Chennai addressed the press on 16.9.2019 and said that there is an ongoing discussion to connect the routes – Tuticorin to Colombo and Talaimannar to Rameshwaram .
In fact, he is not the only one to bring this to the front. John Amaratunga, Minister of Tourism, Wildlife, Christian Affairs, Government of Sri Lanka said earlier on August 2019, “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 “It is from the South Indian side (Rameswaram) that efforts need to be taken up”.
If the ferry services are resumed, it could benefit the tourism in both the countries and also act as a catalyst to the cargo services taking place between the two Asian countries.