Sri Lanka Stands Firm on Katchatheevu: No Plans to Cede Island Amid Fishermen Dispute

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has firmly stated that the country will not cede Katchatheevu, a small uninhabited island in the Palk Strait, dismissing India’s ongoing political debates over it as internal sparring. Speaking to Sirasa TV on Thursday, Herath emphasized that Katchatheevu is unequivocally part of Sri Lanka under international law, and diplomatic channels remain open to address tensions, particularly over Indian fishermen arrests.

The 285-acre island, ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974 under a maritime agreement during Indira Gandhi’s government, has long been a flashpoint. A 1976 pact further restricted fishermen from both nations from fishing in each other’s exclusive economic zones. Herath accused Indian fishermen of illegally crossing into Sri Lankan waters near Katchatheevu, plundering resources and damaging marine ecosystems.

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently linked the frequent arrests of Indian fishermen by Sri Lanka to the 1974 agreement, noting it curtailed their fishing rights during India’s Emergency period. Herath, however, downplayed these claims, framing the issue as political posturing between India’s BJP and Congress parties ahead of elections.

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The fishermen dispute remains a sore point in India-Sri Lanka relations. Tamil Nadu fishermen, who traditionally used Katchatheevu to dry nets and rest, face arrests and boat seizures by the Sri Lankan Navy for crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line. Herath acknowledged the issue’s complexity but stressed that India’s central government does not support illegal fishing.

With both sides entrenched, the Katchatheevu issue continues to stir emotions, particularly in Tamil Nadu, where leaders like M.K. Stalin have demanded its retrieval to protect fishermen’s livelihoods. Yet, Sri Lanka’s resolute stance and historical agreements suggest a resolution remains elusive.

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