Sri Lanka's state-owned Ceylon Shipping Corporation said it is considering a plan to re-establish a ferry service between India and the island's North-East.
Authorities said the service, which would run between Mannar and Rameswaram, would need the permission of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the island earlier this year breathed new life into the project. The Northern Provincial Council also passed a resolution earlier this year, demanding the recommencement of transport links between the North-East and Tamil Nadu.
The United Nations refugee agency earlier this year also called on Sri Lanka to resume ferry services between India and Sri Lanka to help Tamil refugees in India return to the North-East of Sri Lanka.
Earlier this week it emerged that India submitted a feasibility proposal to the Asian Deveopment Bank for a bridge across the Palk Strait. Sri Lanka however said it has not had any discussions with the Indian government regarding this matter.
No discussions held on India's road-rail link submission at ADB says Sri Lanka (20 June 2015)
ADB commits to increase lending to India (18 Jun 2015)
India submits feasibility proposal to ADB for bridge to North-East (17 Jun 2015)
UNHCR calls for Sri Lanka to renew ferry service to India to aid Tamil refugee resettlement (14 May 2015)
India ‘keen’ to restart ferry service between Tamil Nadu and North-East (11 March 2015)
NPC resolution demands transport links between North-East and India (19 February 2014)
Priorities in bi-lateral relations (22 January 2013)
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