Sri Lanka India Ferry Service
Starting from the end of
April, there will be a passenger ferry service between Karaikal port in
Puducherry, India and Kankesanthurai port in Jaffna, North Sri Lanka. The Sri
Lankan Navy and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) are financing this project
and a passenger terminal is being constructed at Kankesanthurai port to
facilitate the four-hour-long ferry service. Infrastructure will be provided for
customs, immigration and emigration services. The ferry will operate only during
the day in the initial phase and is expected to carry about 150 passengers. The
round trip cost is expected to be approximately USD 50, which is around LKR
20,000 and INR 6000-7000. Passengers will be allowed to carry up to 100 kg of
luggage.
This new ferry service is not entirely new, but rather a resuscitation of the
colonial-era transport service between the two countries. In the early 1900s,
the Indo-Ceylon Express or Boat Mail was a train and ferry service that ran
between Chennai and Colombo, through the Tuticorin port. However, due to various
reasons, the service was discontinued, with the final blow being delivered
during the 1980s, when the civil war between the majority Sinhala population and
the minority Tamils in Sri Lanka broke out and lasted for more than 20 years.
Since the civil war ended in 2009, there have been several attempts to restart
this cross-national transportation service, but none have been successful.
However, with the economic and political changes that Sri Lanka has undergone in
recent years, it is now turning to India to revive cultural ties and foster
greater economic cooperation. Therefore, the revival of the age-old ferry
service connecting South India to Jaffna in Sri Lanka signals the beginning of a
new, more positive and fruitful chapter in India-Sri Lanka bilateral relations.
Sri Lanka to India and India to Sri Lanka ferry service has resumed after 20 years. Now you have an entertaining and luxurious way to travel from India to Sri Lanka & vice versa by ship in the Scotia Prince the ferry that links both countries. We will be pleased to offer your tour packages in Sri Lanka specially designed for people arriving from India by ferry. Please visit our Sri Lanka Tours from India page for details.
The first ferry service started from 13th June 2011. The schedule and fares are available on this page. We also make online booking for ferry service from Sri Lanka to India & India to Sri Lanka. Please contact us for making a reservation.
Current Month Schedule of Tuticorin - Colombo Ferry Service
|
Port of Colombo |
Port of Tuticorin |
||||||
|
Arrival |
Departure |
Arrival |
Departure |
||||
| Saturday Oct 01,2011 | 0800 hrs | Monday Oct, 03, 2011 | 1800 hrs | Tuesday Oct 04, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Tuesday Oct 04, 2011 | 1800 hrs |
| Wednesday Oct 05, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Wednesday Oct 05, 2011 | 1800 hrs | Thursday Oct 06, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Friday Oct 07, 2011 | 1800 hrs |
| Saturday Oct 08, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Monday Oct 10, 2011 | 1800 hrs | Tuesday Oct 11, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Tuesday Oct 11, 2011 | 1800 hrs |
| Wednesday Oct 12, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Wednesday Oct 12, 2011 | 1800 hrs | Thursday Oct 13, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Friday Oct 14, 2011 | 1800 hrs |
| Saturday Oct 15, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Monday Oct 17, 2011 | 1800 hrs | Tuesday Oct 18, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Tuesday Oct 18, 2011 | 1800 hrs |
| Wednesday Oct 19, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Wednesday Oct 19, 2011 | 1800 hrs | Thursday Oct 20, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Friday Oct 21, 2011 | 1800 hrs |
| Saturday Oct 22, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Monday Oct 24, 2011 | 1800 hrs | Tuesday Oct 25, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Tuesday Oct 25, 2011 | 1800 hrs |
| Wednesday Oct 26, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Wednesday Oct 26, 2011 | 1800 hrs | Thurdsay Oct 27, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Friday Oct 28, 2011 | 1800 hrs |
| Saturday Oct 29, 2011 | 0800 hrs | Monday Oct 31, 2011 | 1800 hrs | Tuesday Nov 01, 2011 | 0800 hrs | ||
Please arrive at the terminal 4 hours prior to departure
2 cabin bags totalling 15 Kgs per person allowed beyond the boarding point
Maximum of 100 Kg for economy cabin passengers
Maximum of 200 Kg for Deluxe, First & Special needs cabin passengers
Outside food & alcohol are not allowed on board
Only 100 ml of branded liquids, aerosols or gels (Perfumes, Deodorants, Hair oil or Body lotions etc) allowed
Fare Table for Ferry
| CLASS | TYPE | Tut-Col | Col-Tut |
| Economy | single berth | 61 | 61 |
| cabin (2) | 122 | 122 | |
| cabin (4) | 244 | 244 | |
| Special Needs Cabin | single berth | 61 | 61 |
| cabin (4) | 244 | 244 | |
| Deluxe cabin with toilet | single berth | 83 | 81 |
| cabin (4) | 322 | 322 | |
| Deluxe cabin with toilet & shower | single berth | 88 | 88 |
| cabin (2) | 171 | 171 | |
| cabin (4) | 331 | 331 | |
| First Class cabin | cabin (2) | 333 | 333 |
| cabin (3) | 461 | 461 |
Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan is expected to inaugurate the service at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, Tuticorin.
Initially, the vessel will sail twice a week from Tuticorin to Colombo and vice versa. The Colombo-bound vessel will depart from Tuticorin on Mondays and Fridays at 6 p.m. and arrive in Colombo at 8 a.m. the next day. The vessel from Colombo to Tuticorin will sail on Wednesdays and Sundays at the same timings.
The vessel 'scotia Prince,' operated by Flemingo Liners, has nine decks with the capacity to accommodate 1,200 passengers. It has 11 first class cabins, two suites, two cabins for travellers with special needs, 169 super deluxe cabins, 22 deluxe cabins and 111 economy cabins, according to the vessel's authorised agent here.
Besides, the vessel has 250-seat Broadway Lounge to host corporate gatherings, banquets and special occasions with multiple options for entertainment. There is a restaurant with 322 covers and a bar.
The fare has been fixed as follows: first-class cabin with four rooms - Rs. 19,550 from Tuticorin and Rs. 20,470 from Colombo; first-class cabin with two rooms ? Rs. 13,800 from Tuticorin and Rs. 14,720 from Colombo; super deluxe cabin (four rooms) - Rs.14, 260 and Rs. 14, 720 (from Colombo). Cabin (two rooms) - Rs. 7,360 and Rs. 7,590; single berth - Rs. 3,450 and Rs. 3,680; deluxe cabin (four rooms) - Rs. 13,800 and Rs. 14, 260; special needs cabin (with four rooms) - Rs.11,960 and Rs.14,260; for single berth - Rs. 2,990 and Rs.3,128.
Economy class: cabin with rooms Rs.11,960 and Rs.12,420; cabin with two rooms - Rs. 5, 980 and Rs. 6, 210; and for single berth - Rs. 2,990 and Rs. 3,128.
Passengers should check in at the terminal four hours prior to departure. Two bags per person are allowed on the vessel.
Scotia Prince from Tuticorin to Colombo and back an excellent way to travel to & from Sri Lanka by passenger ship from colombo to tuticorin.
Scotia Prince with a capacity of carrying 1044 passengers will do 3 round trips a week and we soon hope to make it a daily service. In addition, Flemingo will operate a duty free shop at the Passenger terminal (India & Colombo) for the use of both arrival and departure passengers.
Scotia Prince Luxury Room
Colombo to Tuticorin ship service is available for booking online. Please contact us to make your reservation
A ministry official has been reported in the local media as saying that the delay was due to the lack of publicity given to the service in India. The ferry service was to commence yesterday.
The service was initially scheduled to resume in February this year but got delayed due to technical difficulties and later postponed when India sent one of its ferry service vessels to evacuate the Indians and Sri Lankans stranded in Libya
Note following i an advertisement
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May 09 2011 The ferry service between India and Sri Lanka that was suspended decades ago due to the troubles in Sri Lanka, is to be resumed tomorrow the 10th May 2011.
The ferry services will run between the Colombo harbour and the Indian port of Tuticorin also known as Thoothukudi
Contact us to Plan your tour of Sri-Lanka
Culture of Sri Lanka | Map of Sri Lanka | Colombo | Sri Lanka Slide Show | Kandy | Nuwra Eliya | Anuradhpura | Basic Sinhala Phrases | Chronology of Events in Sri Lanka | Ferry Service India to Colombo
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