A tourist boat service to visit eight sandbanks associated with Ram Setu (Adam’s Bridge), located in the Palk Strait between Sri Lanka and India, has been launched from Talaimannar, marking a new chapter in tourism development in the Northern Province.
The boat service has been introduced from Talaimannar to provide the public and tourists with an opportunity to visit the eight sandbanks, with the aim of further promoting tourism in the Mannar District.
A pilot trip was conducted last Friday, while the boat service officially commenced operations on Monday (28).
Northern Province Governor N. Vedanayagam, Mannar District Secretary K. Kanakeswaran, Northern Province Tourism Bureau Chairman Dr. J. Vivekanandan and the Mannar Town Divisional Secretary were among those who participated in the pilot trip.
During the excursion, the group travelled by boat from Talaimannar to the third sandbank and disembarked to inspect the site.
The team also assessed the locations and condition of the sandbanks, the feasibility of transporting tourists to the sites, and the preparedness and infrastructure required for tourism activities in the area.
The initiative is expected to further strengthen the potential for marine tourism in the Mannar District while creating new employment and income opportunities for local communities through the tourism sector.
However, the absence of officials from the Indian Deputy High Commission in Jaffna was notable. A senior provincial official said this was due to administrative issues that arose while obtaining the necessary approval from the Ministry of Defence.
Another senior official questioned whether the boat service would be limited only to local visitors or whether foreign tourists would also be given an opportunity to visit the tip of Ram Setu located on the Indian side of the maritime boundary.
