INDO-LANKA FERRY SERVICE TO START FROM JUNE 13

Chennai, Jun 10, (PTI): The much awaited passenger ferry service between India and Sri Lanka will be flagged off by Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan on June 13 at Tuticorin.

The ship -- “Scotia Prince” would be operated twice a week to Colombo from Tuticorin by Flemingo Liners, a company statement said here today.

Flemingo Liners is a ferry passenger and cargo service company promoted by Flemingo Duty Free Shop. Tradex Shipping are their technical partners. A consortium of Flemingo Duty Free Shop and Tradex Shipping Company has obtained the licence to operate the ferry service between the two countries for seven years, it said.

Tuticorin port is closest to Colombo and strategically located along the East-West International sea route. Travel time between Tuticorin and Colombo would take 14 hours. The nine deck Scotia Prince can accomodate 1,044 passengers and can take around 300 tonnes of cargo.

Sea passenger transportation between India and Sri Lanka is being established consequent to the Joint Declaration last year after talks between Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
“Tourism between India and Sri Lanka is tremendous and we wish to boost it with launch of our service. Through this, we wish to give travelers in India and Sri Lanka a rich high sea experience”, Flemingo Liners CEO P K Thimmayya said.

In 2010, 1.26 lakh Indians visited Sri Lanka, while 2.39 lakh Sri Lankans visited India, the statement said.

Comments

Ukrainians injured as police dismantle Kiev 'tent city'

At least 10 demonstrators have been injured in clashes with Ukrainian police and another 100 detained in the capital Kiev after authorities began dismantling a makeshift "tent city" protesting against corruption. The tent city was set up in October by supporters of Mikheil Saakashvili, a former president of Georgia who has become an opposition politician in Ukraine. Saakashvili, a critic of corruption in Ukraine, was deported to Poland in February. He said he was "kidnapped" by Ukrainian authorities and removed from the country against his will. Andriy Kryshchneko, police chief of police, said at the camp on Saturday that "two court decisions" allowed authorities to search and dismantle the camp. Police said that explosives and other weapons were found at the scene

ASSIGNING OF PREFERENTIAL NUMBERS FOR LG POLLS COMPLETED

The Election Secretariat announced that assigning preferential numbers for candidates of the Local Government election to be held for 67 bodies has been completed. Preparations are currently underway to hold the polls under the 2010 electoral register, Additional Elections Commissioner W.P. Sumanasiri said. The electoral register of the year 2010 is scheduled to be certified on June 31.

DEFENCE MINISTRY TO INVESTIGATE CHANNEL 4 FOOTAGE

The channel-four footage was an attempt by certain international powers to undermine the country’s economic strength following their failed war agenda, External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris stated. Speaking at a press conference at the Foreign Ministry today (June 21) he said that the Defence Ministry will investigate the controversial footage. Meanwhile, Minister Peiris added that with President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Russia and the strengthening of ties between the two nations, the government will implement a special programme to encourage more tourists from Russia.

Share Blogs

Search This Blog