The start of the passenger ferry service between India's Nagapattinam and Sri Lanka's Kankesanturi on Saturday was heralded by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who declared that the diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries were about to start a new chapter.
He added that during the recent visit of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, they jointly adopted a vision statement for economic collaboration between the two nations in his message presented electronically during the flag-off event for the ferry service from India's Nagapattinam to Sri Lanka.
"Connectivity is the central theme of this partnership", Indian PM Modi stated.
Indian PM Modi cited the poem "Sindhu Nadhiyin Misai" by poet Subramania Bharati, saying, "Great poet Subramania Bharati had spoken of a bridge uniting our two countries (India and Sri Lanka) in his song Sindhu Nadhiyin Misai. All those ties to the past and different cultures are revived by this ferry service”.
The prime minister wrote on X that ferry services between India and Sri Lanka will improve connectivity, foster trade, and strengthen the two countries' historic ties.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, while expressing his gratitude to India's PM Modi and the Indian Shipping Corporation for their roles in re-establishing India-Sri-Lanka connectivity, said: "This is a crucial step in enhancing connectivity between India and Sri Lanka...which was disrupted by the war in the north. Now that the peace has returned, we can resume our connectivity”.
According to a press release from the Indian High Commission in Colombo, "the discussions on strengthening connectivity and resumption of ferry services between the two countries were held virtually by the India-Sri Lanka Joint Committee on July 14 this year".
In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Passenger Transportation by Sea, the India-Sri Lanka Joint Committee was established.
Both parties concurred that the resumption of ferry services would increase regional trade and tourism, as well as foster closer inter-group ties, according to the press release.