Katchatheevu Island is a small, uninhabited island located in the Palk Strait, between the southeastern coast of India and the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka. Read here to learn more about the history and disputes related to the Island.
Katchatheevu means ‘barren island’ in Tamil. Though barren in geographical terms, it is fertile in political terms. It is an uninhabited island between India and Sri Lanka.
The island has been disputed between India and Sri Lanka for many years, primarily because of its strategic location and associated fishing rights.
The island itself is about 285 acres in size and does not have a permanent settlement.
Katchatheevu island
Historically, it was owned by the Ramnad Kingdom of Ramanathapuram Rameshwaram which later came under the Madras Presidency during British rule of the Indian subcontinent.
- Katchatheevu belonged to the Ramnad Zamindari, which was established in 1605 by the Nayak dynasty of Madurai. It consisted of 69 coastal villages and 11 islets, including Katchatheevu.
- Katchatheevu was a source of revenue for the Sethupathi dynasty as it leased the island first to the Dutch in 1767 and to the British East India Company in 1822.
This is how India has a historical claim to the barren island.
- During British rule, the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was not demarcated, and Kachatheevu Island was not explicitly addressed in colonial agreements.
- The issue of the island’s sovereignty emerged more prominently after both countries gained independence; India in 1947 and Sri Lanka in 1948.
- It has been traditionally used by both Sri Lankan Tamil and Tamil Nadu fishermen.
In its counterclaim, Sri Lanka says that the Catholic Church on the island comes under the Jaffna Diocese. That was the basis of the Sri Lankan claim on Katchatheevu.
Presently, the Katchatheevu island is under Sri Lanka’s sovereignty.
- Since 1921, the island was controlled by the British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka).
- The Indian Government never controlled it.
- The area had never been demarcated as it belonged to Indian Territory.
Indian civilians are reportedly allowed onto the island, which is controlled by Sri Lanka, for just two days and a night every year. That is during the festival at St Antony’s shrine, the only structure on the island.
St Antony is considered to be the patron deity of seafarers.
What is the dispute about?
- The dispute over Katchatheevu has been primarily centred on fishing rights and the access it grants to the fertile fishing grounds in the surrounding waters.
- Fishermen from both countries have traditionally used these waters, leading to occasional conflicts and the arrest of fishermen by both nations’ naval forces for allegedly crossing into each other’s territorial waters.
Resolution attempts
In 1974, then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi accepted Katchatheevu as a Sri Lankan area under the “Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement” aimed at resolving the maritime boundaries in the Palk Strait.
- The agreement allowed Indian fishermen to fish around Katchatheevu and participate in the annual St. Anthony’s festival on the island without needing a visa.
- A further agreement in 1976 attempted to demarcate the maritime boundaries more clearly, but it did not completely resolve the disputes over fishing rights and the detention of fishermen.
- In 1976, the maritime boundary line in the Sethusamudram region between the two neighbours was divided, ending the Indian fishermen’s visits to the island.
- The agreement was never ratified by the Indian Parliament, and this has been a basis for the ongoing dispute over the island’s ownership and the rights of Indian fishermen to fish in the surrounding waters.
The Indian government in February 2014 stated, “No territory belonging to India was ceded nor sovereignty relinquished since the area was in dispute and had never been demarcated.”
- The government added that the agreements did not require a constitutional amendment because no Indian territory was ceded.
Kachatheevu remains under Sri Lankan sovereignty following the 1974 agreement.
- However, the issue continues to be a point of contention, especially among the fishing communities of Tamil Nadu, India, and the Northern Province of Sri Lanka.
- Indian fishermen often allege that their rights to fish in traditional waters are being infringed upon, and there have been numerous incidents of arrest by Sri Lankan authorities, which in turn have led to diplomatic efforts between the two countries to resolve such issues.
Importance of Katchatheevu
- Fishing Rights: The waters around Katchatheevu are rich in marine life, making them highly valuable for fishermen from both countries.
- The agreement allows Indian fishermen to fish in these waters and dry their nets on the island but does not allow them to practice fishing activities.
- The island of Katchatheevu is 22 km from the southern coast of India and around 45 km southwest of Jaffna, which would have extended the maritime boundary and the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone by a decent number of nautical miles.
- This would have given the fishermen an extended fishing area and prevented their arrest by the Lankan Navy.
- However, there have been numerous reports of arrests and confrontations between Sri Lankan authorities and Indian fishermen, who often accuse the Sri Lankan Navy of harassment and arrest for fishing in what they claim is their traditional waters.
- Strategic Location: Although uninhabited, Katchatheevu’s strategic location in the Palk Strait makes it significant from a security and navigational perspective.
- The island’s importance increases as China looks to expand its footprint in the Indian Ocean Region and for thousands of Indian fishermen.
Why in the news?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 31, 2024, raised again the controversial matter of Katchatheevu, a few weeks ahead of the Lok Sabha poll in Tamil Nadu. Citing a report in a daily and posting it on “X” (formerly Twitter).
- Even though almost 50 years have elapsed since the signing of the original agreement in 1974, the matter comes back to the fore as political parties use it to attack their adversaries.
Katchatheevu was in the limelight, in late February also as fishermen associations in Ramanathapuram district boycotted the annual two-day festival, as a mark of protest against the Sri Lankan Government’s continuing arrests of Indian fishermen on charges of poaching.
Implications of the dispute
The dispute over Kachatheevu is reflective of broader issues related to maritime boundaries, access to marine resources, and the rights of traditional communities.
- It also highlights the challenges of managing bilateral relations in a region with complex historical ties and economic dependencies.
- While the island itself is small and uninhabited, the symbolism and practical implications of its status continue to influence India-Sri Lanka relations, particularly in the context of the rights and livelihoods of fishermen from both nations.
There have been calls from various quarters in India, particularly from Tamil Nadu, for the Indian government to renegotiate the terms of the agreement or to reclaim the island, citing the hardships faced by Indian fishermen and the strategic importance of the island.
Conclusion
The issue of Katchatheevu and the rights of fishermen has been a recurring topic in India-Sri Lanka relations, with both governments trying to address the issue through diplomatic channels and joint working mechanisms to avoid conflict and ensure the safety and rights of fishermen on both sides.
The Katchatheevu island dispute highlights the complex nature of maritime boundaries and the impact of geopolitical decisions on the livelihoods of local communities, necessitating a delicate balance between diplomatic negotiations and the protection of traditional rights and resources.
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-Article by Swathi Satish
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