A ferry service between India and Sri Lanka is to begin from next month. This is aimed at encouraging tourism between the two countries. The shipping ministry sources said, the ferry service is to begin between Tuticorin in India and Colombo in Sri Lanka. A committee has been set up, headed by the Shipping Ministry Joint Secretary Rajiv Gupta and his Sri Lankan counterpart to work out the modalities of the agreement. A team of officials of the Shipping Ministry is likely to visit the island nation this month.A similar service has also been proposed from Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka. Our correspondent reports, this move comes in the wake of restoration of peace in the island nation after the fall of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The ferry service is likely to be used for cargo as well. The travelling time through the sea from Tuticorin to Colombo is approximately 10 hours and from Rameswaram to Thalaimannar is about three hours. India currently has cargo operations from the Tuticorin Port to Sri Lanka.The government is looking at investing about 20.8 billion US Dollars in 276 projects to expand 13 major ports — Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Kolkata with Haldia, Chennai, Visakhapatanam, Cochin, Paradip, New Mangalore, Marmagao,Ennore, Tuticorin and Kandla in the country.