Can India claim Katchatheevu Island?

Katchatheevu Island is located in the Palk Bay, one and half nautical miles from the India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), on the Sri Lankan side of IMBL.

- By ADMIRAL RAVINDRA C WIJEGUNARATNE

This boundary line was ratified in 1976 in a trilateral Maritime Agreement signed by India, the Maldives and Sri Lanka; it indicates territorial waters, Contiguous Zones and Exclusive Economic Zones of three countries and agreed/ ratified by the United Nations. So, Katchatheevu Island is Sri Lankan territory.

Then why has Katchatheevu Island, 183 acres of land area, surrounded by beautiful corals and very rich fishing grounds, become a contentious issue between India (especially with Tamil Nadu politics) and Sri Lanka?

Tamil Nadu politicians always eye at Katchatheevu, saying it was “gifted” to Sri Lanka by Shrimathi Indira Gandhi in 1976! However, KATCHATHEEVU WAS NEVER A PART OF INDIA. Only claim they highlight is that during the time of the British Empire, in the mid-1800s (Reign of Queen Victoria-reign 1837 - 1901) Katchatheevu was given on lease to Raja Ramand (Maharaja of Ramnathpuram) to engage in “Chunk fishing” around the island.

Please, read the book “Katchatheevu” by the late W T Jayasinghe, the Defence and External Affairs Ministry Permanent Secretary from 1972 to 1977 when Sirimavo Bandaranaike was Prime Minister. He was the father of the late Chrishantha Romesh Jayasinghe, who was our Foreign Secretary and then the High Commissioner in New Delhi, from October 2009, until his passing in August 2011.