Climate change-driven gale-force winds, unpredictable monsoons, and rough seas are disrupting the smooth operation of the India-Sri Lanka ferry service, which was relaunched 17 months ago.
Suspended for 41 years due to Sri Lanka’s civil war, the historic sea route was revived under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe.
Since its official launch on 14th of October 2023, adverse weather has forced the ferry service to halt operations at least four times, often for extended periods.
The upcoming relaunch, initially scheduled for 13th of February has been postponed due to continuing rough sea conditions, with a tentative new date set for February 16, pending weather improvements.
A spokesperson for Subham Ferry Services, which operates the route for the Shipping Corporation of India, confirmed that online tickets from Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, to Kankesanthurai, Jaffna, will be available a day before the new launch.
The ferry service is planned to run six days a week, except Tuesdays, with a one-way ticket priced at ₹4,500 and special travel packages designed for Indian tourists visiting Sri Lanka.
Indian citizens with a passport and a return ticket can travel via ferry to Sri Lanka, benefiting from a visa-on-arrival facility.
The Shivaganga vessel will initially operate the route, departing from Nagapattinam at 7 AM and returning from Kankesanthurai at 2 PM, with each trip taking approximately three hours.
To make the journey more accessible, the two-way fare has been reduced from ₹9,700 to ₹8,500, and the free baggage allowance has been increased to 23 kg, with a total limit of 70 kg.
Onboard amenities have been improved, with redesigned toilets, an expanded snack menu, fresh beverages, and a duty-free shop offering discounted goods.
Experts attribute the ongoing disruptions to climate change, citing delayed monsoons and rising ocean temperatures as key factors causing increasingly rough sea conditions.
Ocean expert Dr. Mahesh Rangathanathan emphasized the need for better-equipped vessels to handle the worsening weather patterns in the Gulf of Mannar.
Beyond transportation, the ferry service is seen as India’s strategic initiative to strengthen its presence in Sri Lankan waters, monitor smuggling and infiltration, and enhance cultural ties between the two nations.
