Sri Lanka Rejects India’s Claims on Katchatheevu Island Amid Electoral Tensions

In a recent development, Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda dismissed India’s assertions regarding the “reclaiming” of Katchatheevu island, labeling these statements as baseless. The controversy surfaced following accusations by the Narendra Modi-led government against the Congress Party and its ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, for compromising national interests by ceding Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in 1974. These allegations have been intensified by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), criticizing both parties for failing to safeguard the fishing rights in the vicinity of Katchatheevu island.

Douglas Devananda, a prominent Sri Lankan Tamil politician, addressed the media in Jaffna, attributing the escalated claims to the electoral climate in India. He suggested that India’s motives revolve around securing exclusive access to the resource-rich area, thereby preventing Sri Lankan fishermen from entering these waters. This assertion comes amid historical tensions over the island, which was officially transferred to Sri Lanka following a bilateral agreement in 1974, later revised in 1976 to restrict fishermen from both nations from fishing in each other’s territorial waters.

The issue of Katchatheevu has led to widespread protests by Sri Lankan fishermen against illegal fishing activities by their Indian counterparts, with the Sri Lankan Navy arresting numerous Indian fishermen and trawlers this year. Amidst these tensions, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has refrained from making definitive statements on the matter, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal directing inquiries to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s previous comments for clarification.

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