Transport Services to Neduntheevu Disrupted Daily Amid Severe Difficulties

29-Oct-2026

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Transport services to Neduntheevu (Delft Island) are facing severe difficulties after all three boats operated by the Department of Road Development on the Kurikattuwan–Neduntheevu route became unserviceable.

The boats Neduntharakai and Vadatharakai, which operated on the route between Kurikattuwan and Neduntheevu in Jaffna, had already broken down, leaving the Kumudini as the only vessel operating the service.

In this situation, at around 4.30 p.m. on 28 October, the Kumudini departed Kurikattuwan for Neduntheevu carrying 60 passengers, including women, children and elderly people. A few minutes after departure, the boat experienced an engine failure and was left adrift at sea.

Navy personnel responded swiftly, travelled to the vessel in a naval boat and rescued the passengers aboard the Kumudini, bringing them back to the Kurikattuwan area.

After learning that the Kumudini had broken down and that passengers travelling to Neduntheevu had been brought back to Kurikattuwan, a private boat named Karikalan departed Neduntheevu for Kurikattuwan. It picked up the stranded passengers and transported them back to Neduntheevu. The disabled Kumudini was also taken to Neduntheevu.

Meanwhile, on the morning of 29 October, a private boat named Sathsara travelled from Neduntheevu to Kurikattuwan at 7 a.m. When it was preparing to return to Neduntheevu at 8.30 a.m., a large number of people, including government officials, tourists and residents of the island, were waiting to board, resulting in overcrowding and difficulties.

Despite considerable difficulties, passengers were transported from Kurikattuwan to Neduntheevu. The boat journey takes approximately one hour.

Given the length of the journey, breakdowns and interruptions to boat services cause considerable hardship to residents of Neduntheevu. The island's tourism industry is also reportedly suffering as a result.