"The delay was due to India deploying the vessel earmarked for the service to evacuate the Indian workers from Libya", Shantha Weerakoon, a top ports ministry official said.
The three voyage per week service was expected to provide service to around 100,000 passengers annually, Sri Lankan officials said.
The link will be the first of the two ferry links to be established between the two countries.
Sea passenger transportation between India and Sri Lanka is being established consequent to the Joint Declaration issued last year following talks held between Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.The distance between Colombo and Tuticorin is about 280 miles and the duration of the journey will be about 10 to 12 hours.