India, Sri Lanka passenger ferry service to start from Jun 13

The ship -- "Scotia Prince" would be operated twice a week to Colombo from Tuticorin by Flemingo Liners, a company statement said here today.

Flemingo Liners is a ferry passenger and cargo service company promoted by Flemingo Duty Free Shop. Tradex Shipping are their technical partners. A consortium of Flemingo Duty Free Shop and Tradex Shipping Company has obtained the licence to operate the ferry service between the two countries for seven years, it said.

Tuticorin port is closest to Colombo and strategically located along the East-West International sea route. Travel time between Tuticorin and Colombo would take 14 hours. The nine deck Scotia Prince can accomodate 1,044 passengers and can take around 300 tonnes of cargo.

Sea passenger transportation between India and Sri Lanka is being established consequent to the Joint Declaration last year after talks between Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"Tourism between India and Sri Lanka is tremendous and we wish to boost it with launch of our service. Through this, we wish to give travelers in India and Sri Lanka a rich high sea experience", Flemingo Liners CEO P K Thimmayya said.

In 2010, 1.26 lakh Indians visited Sri Lanka, while 2.39 lakh Sri Lankans visited India, the statement said.