Lanka, India discuss sea transportation

An Indian delegation led by the Shipping Ministry Secretary visited Sri Lanka from October 14 to 15 to discuss with Ports and Aviation Ministry officials on the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on passenger transportation by sea between the two countries.

The Sri Lanka delegation was led by Ports and Aviation Ministry Secretary K V P Ranjith de Silva.

The two sides were meeting consequent to the decision contained in the Joint Declaration issued on June 9 following talks between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the need to speedily restore the traditional links between the two countries and to resume the ferry services between Colombo and Tuticorin and between Talaimannar and Rameshwaram.The two sides agreed on the text of the MoU for passenger transportation by sea and initiated the text of the MoU.

The MoU would be signed by the two countries after the internal processes are completed, following which ferry services between Colombo and Tuticorin and Talaimannar and Rameshwaram can be put in place.