International cruise headed for Sri Lanka from the Chennai Port on Monday( 5 June 2023) as part of a series of initiatives set off by the Centre to jump-start cruise tourism across the country.

• The luxury ship, MV Empress, will reach the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka on Wednesday( 7 June 2023), touch Trincomalee on the island nation’s northeastern coast and Kankesanturai in Jaffna district, before heading back to Chennai.
• The cruise features shopping areas, bars, swimming pools, cinemas, and more.
• A government release on Monday said the International Cruise Terminal at the Chennai Port, built at a cost of Rs 17.21 crore, becomes operational with the flagging-off of MV Empress.