India has announced the extension of its LKR 300 million financial assistance to sustain the passenger ferry service between Kankesanthurai (KKS) in northern Sri Lanka and Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu for another year.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Indian High Commission in Colombo said the funding extension reflects India’s continued commitment to boosting regional connectivity and deepening people-to-people ties with Sri Lanka.
The assistance operates as a gap funding mechanism to support the affordability and long-term viability of the service. It is designed to cover key logistical and operational costs, ensuring that the ferry remains accessible and functional throughout the year. The funding terms remain consistent with those of the previous year.
The KKS-Nagapattinam ferry service, relaunched in 2023 after a decades-long pause, has been widely welcomed as a practical step toward improving cross-border mobility and cultural exchange between the two countries.
