Jaffna Port

Jaffna has no single harbour of its own. The town sits on the shallow Jaffna Lagoon, which only small boats can use, so the peninsula's sea traffic is spread across several places. Large ships and the passenger ferry to India use Kankesanthurai (KKS) Port on the north coast. Boats to the islands leave from Kurikadduwan jetty in the west. A string of fishing harbours lines the coast in between. This guide explains which "Jaffna port" you need and how to reach it.

Kankesanthurai (KKS): Jaffna's deep-water port

Kankesanthurai, usually shortened to KKS, lies on the northern coast of the peninsula, about 20 km north of Jaffna town. It is the only harbour in the Jaffna area that can take sea-going cargo and passenger vessels, and it is managed by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. The port was badly damaged and closed to civilian use during the civil war. Since 2009 it has been cleared and rebuilt in stages, including breakwater and berth rehabilitation financed with assistance from India.

For travellers, KKS matters mainly as the Sri Lankan end of the passenger ferry to Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu. The service began in 2023 and has run intermittently since then, often seasonally, with changes of operator and timetable. Always confirm current sailings before planning around it. It is an international crossing, so you need a valid passport and the right visa, and immigration and customs formalities are handled at the port. More detail is on our Kankesanthurai Seaport page. The quiet Kankesanthurai Beach is close by.

Kurikadduwan jetty: ferries to Nainativu and Delft

Most visitors who take a boat in Jaffna do so at Kurikadduwan (KKD) jetty, on the island of Punkudutivu. From Jaffna town the road runs west across a chain of causeways through Kayts and Velanai, so you reach the jetty without a sea crossing. From here:

• Nainativu is a short boat ride away. It is a pilgrimage island for both faiths, home to the Nagapooshani Amman Kovil and the Buddhist Nagadeepa Viharaya. Boats run frequently through the day.
• Delft (Neduntheevu) is a longer crossing of roughly an hour, with far fewer departures. It is known for its wild ponies, coral-stone walls and Dutch-era ruins. Go early, and check the last boat back before you set off.

These are working passenger boats run by the navy and local operators, not tourist cruises. Schedules depend on weather and the season.

Fishing harbours around the peninsula

Fishing has always been central to Jaffna life, and the coast is dotted with landing sites and harbours. Point Pedro on the north-east tip and Myliddy near KKS are the main fishing harbours on the open sea. Gurunagar, on the lagoon edge of Jaffna town, is the town's own fishing quarter. Early morning is the time to see boats landing their catch, and the fresh crab, prawns and cuttlefish that make Jaffna cuisine famous come from these harbours.

A short history of Jaffna's sea gateways

The peninsula's position, a few hours' sail from the Indian coast, made it a trading and pilgrimage crossroads long before colonial times. The Portuguese and then the Dutch controlled the region from the water. Jaffna Fort stands on the lagoon shore, and the small island fortress of Fort Hammenhiel guards the sea channel between Kayts and Karaitivu. Under British rule, Kankesanthurai grew into the north's main commercial harbour, a role it lost during the war and is slowly regaining.

Getting to Jaffna's ports

• To KKS: about 20 km north of Jaffna town by road, typically 30 to 45 minutes by car, tuk-tuk or local bus.
• To Kurikadduwan jetty: about 30 km west over the island causeways, typically around an hour by road. Local buses run from Jaffna bus stand, or travel with a driver to fit both islands into one day.
• Arriving by air: Jaffna International Airport at Palaly is close to KKS, a short drive from the port.

For everything else to see and do on the peninsula, start with our Jaffna city guide.