The Katchatheevu issue: India-Sri Lanka Agreements

Why Katchatheevu issue in news?

Katchatheevu is a small island, approximately 285 acres in size, situated within Sri Lanka’s maritime boundary, about 33 km off the coast of Tamil Nadu.
Despite its modest dimensions, the island holds significant historical and religious significance, with the 120-year-old St.
Anthony’s Church attracting pilgrims from both India and Sri Lanka for an annual festival.
Its strategic location near the Palk Strait has also made it a focal point of contention between the two nations.

The Katchatheevu issue came to the forefront in 1974 when India and Sri Lanka signed an agreement, under which India purportedly ceded the island to Sri Lanka.
However, Indian fishermen were granted access to Katchatheevu for specific purposes, including rest, net drying, and attending religious festivals.
The agreement’s terms were subject to scrutiny and criticism, particularly regarding the fishing rights of Indian fishermen, which were not explicitly addressed.

Two years later, in 1976, further negotiations between India and Sri Lanka led to the delineation of maritime boundaries and the establishment of sovereign rights over the Wadge Bank area near Kanyakumari for India.
This strategic maritime patch, rich in marine resources, was deemed significant for both fishing activities and broader strategic interests.
The agreement aimed to address the concerns raised by the 1974 agreement while securing India’s maritime interests in the region.

Following the agreements, disputes and demands for the retrieval of Katchatheevu persisted, especially as incidents of Indian fishermen being arrested in Sri Lankan waters escalated.
Political leaders in Tamil Nadu, including J Jayalalithaa, sought to challenge the agreements, asserting that they infringed upon traditional fishing rights and livelihoods.
However, legal proceedings and diplomatic efforts to address the issue have been met with challenges and complexities, reflecting the deep-rooted historical and geopolitical dynamics at play.

Efforts to challenge the agreements culminated in legal proceedings, with petitions filed in the Supreme Court seeking the restoration of Katchatheevu to India.
Despite ongoing debates and political rhetoric, no concrete steps have been taken by the Indian government to revisit the agreements or reclaim the island.
The legal and diplomatic complexities surrounding the agreements continue to shape the discourse on this decades-old dispute, highlighting the need for nuanced approaches and diplomatic engagement to address the underlying grievances and concerns of all stakeholders.

The Katchatheevu dispute remains a contentious issue, reflecting the complex dynamics of territorial claims, maritime boundaries, and historical grievances between India and Sri Lanka.
While political posturing and demands for resolution persist, the legal and diplomatic complexities surrounding the agreements continue to shape the discourse on this decades-old dispute, underscoring the importance of diplomatic engagement and dialogue in resolving longstanding disputes and fostering regional cooperation and stability.