By: Nanthana Sureshkumar
Katchatheevu is a small island between Sri Lanka and India, currently uninhabited under the control of the Sri Lankan government. The island has traditionally been used by Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen, who are often seen fishing off the coasts of their respective countries. The island is also home to the St. Anthony church, which is the only inhabited structure in the area. The church is visited by both Indian and Sri Lankan Catholic pilgrims. Until 1974, the ownership of this island had been a long and heated debate between the two nations throughout British rule. In 1974 the Indian and Sri Lankan governments came to an agreement where the island would be under the control of Sri Lanka, through the Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement. After this agreement was signed, Sri Lanka gained control of the island, which restricted fishing from both countries from fishing outside of their assigned zones.
There have been many issues between the two countries regarding fishing outside their respective zones, so Katchatheevu has come up frequently in discussions. Until this year, India and Sri Lanka have been amicable regarding the sovereignty of Katchatheevu. Recently, Narendra Modi has accused the opposition party (Congress) of giving away the island to Sri Lanka, which has drawn immense backlash from the Congress party. There has been new information revealed about the agreement, accessed by K. Annamalai, who is the chief of BJP’s Tamil Nadu branch, which suggests India had given up all claims to the island. But the opposition sees this as a play to appeal to voters in Tamil Nadu, which the BJP has been trying to appeal to in time for the 2024 general elections. There has been significant miscommunication between the BJP and the opposition about the government’s stance.
In the past, the Indian government has been mindful of Sri Lanka’s claim, saying that the island has no importance and that India has no hesitation in giving up their claims to it. However, the Ministry of External Affairs maintains that India has a claim over the island. Since the agreement of 1974, court cases have been filed by political parties in Tamil Nadu challenging the agreement with Sri Lanka. On the Sri Lankan side, the officials have said that they have not received any official communication from India regarding control over the island. They say that as far as Sri Lanka is concerned, the island falls within the Sri Lankan line of control. The Sri Lankan government also has said that India’s claim to the island is a violation of the sovereignty they hold over the island.
Katchatheevu is an ongoing issue between the Indian and Sri Lankan governments, with not much room for change. Despite the legal conflicts the island remains accessible to religious pilgrims from both countries. Due to the regional importance of the island and the need to appeal to the Tamil voters, the BJP has been steadfast in making this issue a part of their campaign. Legally, the Indian government has taken multiple measures to incorporate Katchatheevu into India. As of right now, the island remains under Sri Lankan control for various reasons, including but not limited to, geographic proximity.
Sources:
World Affairs Council of Charlotte 