THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Noted adventure swimmer S P Muralidharan will set out to cross the Palk Strait between Sri Lanka and India from Talaimannar to Dhanushkodi on March 20. Addressing a news conference here on Thursday along with Miss World runner-up Parvathy Omanakuttan, former Indian football captain I M Vijayan and others, he said Pankajakasthuri Herbals India (Pvt) Ltd had offered to meet the expenses of Rs 12 lakh for the adventure event. Pankajakasthuri managing director Hareendran Nair handed over a cheque worth Rs 5.5 lakh in this connection.
The 31-km stretch of Palk Strait is hostile to swimmers as it is full of sea snakes and other dangerous marine creatures. Besides, the current prevalent in the area also offers tough resistance to swimmers’ efforts. Muralidharan, a native of Thirunelloor in Alappuzha district, emerged as an international adventure swimmer ever since his participation in the marathon swimming in Switzerland in 2005. He is also active in imparting training to hundreds of aspiring swimmers. He has constituted the Vembanad Swimming Club at Cherthala to provide coaching in swimming.
Actor Mohanlal will flag off the event. Muralidharan said Indian Navy, Coast Guard and Sri Lankan Navy and Coast Guard will provide technical support.
S N Kulkarni (Director, Maritime Exploration and Research Group, Mumbai) is the chief navigator. Former international swimmer and DGP of Andhra Pradesh Rajiv Trivedi will be the event director. Maritime Exploration and Research group is also associating with the event.