Ferry service delayed

25 May 2011 10:00 am Views - 3560

The ferry that was to leave for Colombo from Tuticorin, India this Friday (May 27) on its maiden voyage has been delayed due to unavoidable circumstances, the Ceylon Shipping Corporation (CSC) said.

The Corporation said that the ferry will however make its way to Colombo during the first week of June and the ferry from Colombo is to leave during the first week of June to Tuticorin, India.

The Indian ferry that is to arrive in Colombo will be able to accommodate close to a thousand passengers and 100 kg in luggage for every individual. The Colombo harbour has arranged the necessary services needed to receive these passengers with the customs and other services establishing their counters in the harbour premise.

The 280 mile trip between the two countries that is to take place three times a week has been delayed on several occasions due to various reasons from both countries.

The 10 to 12 hour trip that has been looked forward to is to be established following a joint declaration last year and is said to provide service to a 100,000 passengers annually most of whom are devotees.  

Authorities said that they would begin a ferry service between Talaimannar and Danushkodi if this is a success. The service was to begin in 2003/2004 but was halted due to security threats.  (Nabeela Hussain)