COLOMBO: India and Sri Lanka are keen to resume ferry services as early as next month for greater connectivity between the people of both countries, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported.

Resumption of ferry services between Talaimannar and Rameswaram and Colombo and Tuticorin was discussed by Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Sri Lankan counterpart Mangala Samaraweera here last week.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Ministry spokesman A M J Sadiq said both ministers were keen to see early resumption of ferry services.

The Colombo-Tuticorin ferry service resumed after the end of the military conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in 2009 had to be suspended because it was not commercially viable.

The Rameswaram-Talaimannar service was halted during Sri Lanka’s civil war in the 1980s.

Sadiq said there were pending issues requiring attention before services could be resumed.

“There are logistical issues. Both piers at Talaimannar and Rameswaram need upgrading,” he said.