India today said it will help Sri Lanka to resume ferry services between Talaimannar and Rameswaram at an early date to facilitate people-to-people contacts.
The resumption of this ferry service will re-establish old ties and the linkages that have existed historically between our two countries, external affairs minister SM Krishna said.
The ferry services were suspended in the 80's.
In order to enable resumption of ferry services, between Talaimannar and Rameswaram at an early date, IRCON will also build a temporary jetty at Talaimannar, Krishna said.
Krishna also launched the Pilot Housing Project of 1,000 houses at Ariyalai. The pilot project is part of Government of India's commitment to build 50,000 houses.
This is for the Internally Displaced Persons in the Northern, Eastern and Central Provinces of Sri Lanka.
Hindustan Prefab Limited, a state owned Indian company, will execute this pilot project.
At Medawachchiya in North Central Sri Lanka, Krishna while inaugurating the laying of the railway line, said the partnership between the two countries had developed significantly.
"As part of our effort to provide for the reconstruction of Northern Sri Lanka, the Government of India has pledged a line of credit of $800 million at significantly concessional rates.
This he said was for various aspects of the Northern Railway project, including reconstruction of railway lines, installation of signalling and telecom systems and the procurement of rolling stock.
"Today's ceremony marks the launch of works on the Medawachchiya-Madhu line by IRCON International Ltd., which is a leading Indian company in railway infrastructure and is already working on the rehabilitation of the Southern Railway, which is also being financed through an Indian line of credit," the minister said.
"I understand that the work on Phase 1 of the project in the Galle-Matara Section is progressing well and is likely to be completed by December 2010," he said.
Work will also begin simultaneously on the Madhu-Talaimannar and Omanthai-Pallai railway lines.
Krishna appreciated the work of the demining teams from India to clear the project area of mines.
As a part of these works, a new pier at Talaimannar will also be built.
