The Sri Lankan and Maldivian governments are making arrangements to commence a passenger ferry service between Colombo-Malé, as part of a joint campaign to boost economic cooperation and tourism amongst both countries.

Currently, negotiations are ongoing between the Sri Lankan, Maldivian governments and the passenger shipping companies, in order to commence the Colombo-Malé passenger ferry service.

Sri Lanka’s Deputy Minister of Ports and Highways, Rohitha Abeygunawardena told Haveeru that the plan to start a Colombo- Malé ferry service seems positive and that both countries are yet in the negotiations stage.

“The idea of having a Colombo-Malé ferry service has been there for sometime, but the plans were never expedited. We are yet negotiating the terms with the Maldivian government and several shipping companies. We have received a positive response from them and hope to commence operations soon,” Deputy Minister Abeygunawardena said.

“Recently we sent a delegation from the Sri Lanka Ports Authority on a three day visit to Maldives to discuss the plans. We still have several challenges ahead of us before commencing the service,” he said.

“The plan to have this ferry service was proposed at a South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Transport Conference held early this year. We expect the Colombo-Malé ferry service to boost tourism in Sri Lanka and Maldives,” Deputy Minister Abeygunawardena said.

Due to Sri Lanka’s civil war the Colombo-Tuticorin passenger ferry service recommenced after 30 years in June this year. The ferry services between the two countries were resumed as a result of an understanding between the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa last year when the Sri Lankan President visited India.

Since June, the vessel Scotia Prince which has a capacity to ferry 1,044 passengers operated by Flemingo Liners has been transporting passengers to and from Colombo-Tuticorin.

The Sri Lankan government is also negotiating terms to start a ferry service between Colombo-Chennai.

Haveeru has also reliably learnt that the Maldivian government is negotiating with India as well in order to commence an India-Maldives ferry service. It is learnt that high level officials from the Cochin and Tuticorin Port Trust and the Shipping Corporation of India visited the Maldives recently to discuss plans related to commencing the ferry service. (By Asif Fuard – HNS)