Sri Lanka will commence the operations of the passenger ferry service between Kankesanthurai and Pondicherry on April 29, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Aviation said.

It said a passenger terminal is currently being constructed at the Kankesanthurai Port to facilitate the ferry service by the Sri Lanka Navy.

Ferry owners have mentioned during a recent discussion that they will be charging 50 US Dollars per passenger for a one-way trip, while allowing a passenger to carry baggage weighing 100kg. 

A ferry is expected to carry 150 passengers at a time and will take around 4 hours to travel from Karaikal Port in Pondicherry to Kankesanthurai.

Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said that any businessman in India and Sri Lanka can join this passenger ferry service.

In order to provide relief to the people, Lanka Sathosa has reduced the prices of 10 essential items with effect from today (24).

The revised prices;

Dry Chillies 1kg – Rs: 1,380
Garlic 1kg – Rs: 450
Sprats 1kg – Rs: 1,100
Chickpea 1kg – Rs: 555
Samba Rice (Local) 1kg – Rs: 199
Canned Fish 425g – Rs: 520
Big Onion 1kg – Rs: 119
Potatoes (local) 1kg – Rs: 270
White sugar 1kg – Rs: 210
Watana 1kg – Rs: 298

The Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR) further appreciated against the US Dollar (USD) today.

Announcing the official exchange rates, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) declared the buying rate as Rs. 311.26 per USD and the selling rate as 328.60 per USD.

Meanwhile, the Middle Rate of the USD/LKR SPOT exchange rate stood at Rs. 317.31 today.