Monsoon hits India-Sri Lanka ferry service

• Operation to be suspended for over one month

By Kelum Bandara in Jaffna  

The India-Sri Lanka ferry service is to be suspended for over a month due to the turbulent sea during the monsoon period, an official said.  

The passenger ferry service between Nagapattinam in India and Kankesanthurai (KKS) near Jaffna in the Northern Province, which was first launched in October 2023, resumed operations again in August.  

The ferry named ‘Sivagangai’ is operated by IndSri Ferry Services. Its Director Niranjan Nanthagopan told Daily Mirror that the ferry service would be suspended between November 16 and December because of turbulence expected in the sea during the upcoming monsoon period.  

He said the service could not be operated for a few days recently due to bad weather.  

Sri Lanka is currently going through the inter-monsoon period. According to the Meteorology Department, the north-east monsoon period will be active by the end of this month.  

According to the department, the northern sea is expected to be rough these days due to a low pressure area being developed.