India to Fund Kankesanthurai Port Renovation in Sri Lanka

• 02 May 2024

On 30th April, 2024, Sri Lankan Cabinet announced India's agreement to fully finance the renovation of Kankesanthurai Port in the Northern Province, aiming to enhance connectivity and economic prospects.

Key Points

• Port Location and Features: Kankesanthurai Port, situated in Sri Lanka's Northern Province, spans approximately 16 acres and lies 104 km from Karaikal Port in Puducherry.
• Connectivity: Direct passenger ship service links Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, to Kankesanthurai port near Jaffna, covering 111 km in about 3.5 hours.
• Indian Funding: Indian government commits to funding the project due to its strategic importance and potential benefits.
• Delayed Implementation: Project implementation delayed due to discrepancies in estimated costs; discussions ongoing for Public Private Partnership (PPP) method.
• Project Cost: Full project cost estimated at USD 61.5 million, with recent announcements confirming this figure.