Sri Lanka’s Cabinet has approved the plan to renovate the Kankesanthurai port in the Northern part of the island. The project will be executed under an Indian financial grant. The project had faced delays as estimated costs surpassed available funds. Recognizing the project’s significance, India has pledged to cover the entire estimated cost of the project. The decision not only addresses the port’s infrastructural needs but also underscores the strength of bilateral cooperation between Sri Lanka and India. Earlier this year, Sri Lanka cabinet had mentioned that the project’s full cost was $61.5 million.

Situated in the northern region of Sri Lanka, the 16-acre Kankesanthurai Port or KKS Port, is located 104 km from Karaikal Port in Pondicherry, India.

Last year, ferry services between India and Sri Lanka commenced with a direct passenger ship service connecting Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu to Kankesanthurai port in Sri Lanka. The ferry covers 111 km in about 3.5 hours and is an important method of connectivity for the people of both regions.

With Sri Lankan Cabinet approving the plan to renovate the Kankesanthurai port in northern part of the island, connectivity between the two countries is likely to improve further. Indian government had recently decided to fully fund the Kankesanthurai Port development project as it had faced considerable delays already. Initially approved as a credit line based project, India’s pledge to cover the entire estimated cost of 61.5 million dollars under a grant given the significance of the project has been welcomed in Sri Lanka. India and Sri Lanka have been actively implementing the joint vision document under which connectivity is an important facet. An important mode of connectivity between the two countries, Ferry services connect Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu to Kankesanthurai port in Sri Lanka.