Not informed by India on rail link: Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan government on Monday said it has not received any official communication from India to establish a road and rail link between Tamil Nadu's Rameshwaram town and Sri Lanka's Talaimanner town, an official said here.

The Indian government has asked the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to carry out a pre-feasibility study for financing the project across Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka, reported Xinhua news agency.

According to sources, the project may be a combination of bridge and underwater tunnel which may allow unhindered movement of ships.

However, Deputy Foreign Minister Ajith Perera said that despite these reports, Sri Lanka was yet to be informed of any such proposal.

He said the negatives and positives of such a project would have to be carefully studied along with the social and economic impact it would have on both countries before discussing the matter further.

"It is a massive project which has to be thoroughly studied before any decision can be made," Perera said.

In the past, a short boat ride used to connect the railway lines that ended at Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka and Dhanushkodi in India, which was in operation till 1966.