Sri Lankan President Affirms Katchatheevu Island Belongs to Sri Lanka
On October 11, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake addressed a rally in the North Western Province, stating that the Indian government has recognized the ownership of Katchatheevu Island as belonging to Sri Lanka. This statement follows recent hearings in India’s Supreme Court concerning the agreement made in the 1970s that transferred the island to Sri Lankan control.
Ongoing Discussions in India’s Supreme Court
During the hearings, India’s Attorney General, R. Venkataramani, emphasized that India values its strong relationship with Sri Lanka and has no plans to revisit the agreements made in 1974 and 1976 regarding Katchatheevu. A further hearing on the matter is slated for February 2027. Justice Sanjay Kumar, one of the justices involved in the case, highlighted the need for both the central Indian government and the Tamil Nadu state administration to communicate to fishermen about not entering Sri Lankan waters.
Fishermen’s Concerns
The status of Katchatheevu frequently emerges in discussions, especially when Tamil Nadu fishermen are detained by the Sri Lankan Navy for illegal fishing activities in Sri Lankan waters. Many fishermen from Tamil Nadu frequently cross into the waters off Sri Lanka’s northern coast, which are rich in resources, often using destructive bottom trawling methods.
President Dissanayake also assured India that Sri Lanka would not permit its land, airspace, or sea to be used in ways that could threaten India’s security. He visited Katchatheevu last year and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to safeguarding Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity and its adjacent waters.
