Despite India’s offer of a US$ 62 million grant for the development of the Kankesanthurai (KKS) Port, the Sri Lankan government has not yet reached a final decision on whether to proceed with the project, an official said yesterday.
The grant, first proposed during the previous administration and later renewed under the current government, is intended to enhance maritime connectivity between Sri Lanka and India. A ferry service between Kankesanthurai and the southern part of India has already commenced as part of broader regional connectivity initiatives.
Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation Janitha Kodituwakku stated that the government, led by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, is still assessing the project’s socio-economic viability.
“We are still studying the project. It may take us a month or so to take a final decision,” the Deputy Minister said.
The KKS Port, located about 56 nautical miles from Karaikal Port in Pondicherry, India, spans approximately 16 acres. Overland, the port lies around 23 kilometres from the nearest land connection, according to the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).
With a history dating back to the 1950s, the KKS Port originally functioned as a commercial harbour supporting the nearby cement factory. It later came under the control of the Sri Lanka Navy during the war years. The SLPA notes that the government had previously identified the port’s potential to serve as a tourist and regional connectivity hub between India and Sri Lanka.
However, the final decision on utilizing India’s grant for redevelopment remains pending as the government continues its review.
