Srilanka, Feb. 2 -- There's a bus from the Jaffna bus stand to Kurikattuwan that departs at 6.30 am. The only ferry to Delft Island leaves from Kurikattuwan Jetty at 8 am. If you miss it, you'll have to wait until noon. I reached the Kurikattuwan Jetty at 7.30 a.m. There, I found a crowd of teachers, principals, Government employees, and even police officers waiting for the boat to Delft.

The boat that arrives from Delft at 6.45 a.m. reaches Kurikattuwan Jetty by 8.00 a.m. This is the first boat of the day, and it operates in both directions. Even though schools on the island start at 7.30 a.m., teachers often arrive after 9.30 a.m. due to the boat schedule. At exactly 8 o'clock, the boat Kumudini arrived at the jetty, packed with around...