
Sri Lanka Navy's interference with Delft's Passenger Ferry service is on the increase
The Passenger Ferry Service between Kurikadduvan and Delft is in danger of getting abruptly terminated due to the unbearable nuisance of the Sri Lankan Navy men that has caused inconveniences and hindrances to this service. The Navy had also run this service for a fairly long time until some time ago recently. As the public were unhappy with the way the Navy conducted the service and due to the vehement protests by the passengers crossing over to and from Delft and demonstrations by the fishermen's Co-operative societies the Sri Lanka Navy handed over the service to private boat owners who have been hitherto successfully running the service to the entire satisfaction of the passengers in all respects.
Although the boatmen have been rendering their best in ferrying the passengers during the short time since the handing over of the service by the Navy, both the boatmen and passengers are undergoing hardships while on journey on account of the Navy men creating nuisance by introducing passes and interrupting the journeys on the pretext of flying check ups which is absolutely inappropriate in the present context of Ceasefire under the MoU. By these practices the Navy poses an implicit demand that the ferry services have to be in their control and under their surveillance. Due to these unfair threats by the Navy and the boatmen being constantly apprehensive of the horrors at all stages of ferrying, the public observes and complains that the boatmen are reluctant to continue the service and hence the service is on the verge of being given up.
30 December 2003
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