The Joint Committee to Strengthen India-Sri Lanka Connectivity meets

  The India-Sri Lanka Joint Committee established under the MOU on Passenger Transportation by Sea held a virtual meeting on July 14, 2023. The two sides were led respectively by Shri Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways of the Government of India, and Mr. K.D.S. Ruwanchandra, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Aviation of the Government of Sri Lanka. The productive discussions focused on the resumption of ferry services between the two countries, connecting mutually agreed-upon points. Both sides agreed that the resumption of ferry services would boost regional trade and tourism and promote stronger people-to-people ties. The Joint Committee identified a number of areas for mutual cooperation for the operationalization of ferry services in the near future and desired to take further steps based on mutual understanding. The Joint Committee was recently reconstituted by the Governments of India and Sri Lanka as per the provisions of the bilateral Memorandum of Understanding on Passenger Transportation by Sea, signed in 2011.