In the midst of the dispute concerning Kachchatheevu island, Sri Lanka staunchly opposes any endeavor by India to reclaim the territory, asserting its rightful ownership. Sri Lankan Minister of Fisheries, Douglas Devananda, adamantly rebuffs India’s assertions regarding the ‘reclamation’ of Kachchatheevu island, deeming them unsubstantiated.
The seasoned Sri Lankan Tamil statesman expresses disdain towards any efforts by India to exert pressure on his nation. His disapproval surfaced subsequent to the Modi administration’s remarks targeting the Congress Party and its ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), in Tamil Nadu, accusing them of neglecting national interests in the cession of Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974, which sparked controversy.
The BJP has also been criticizing the two parties for their failure to safeguard the rights of fishermen seeking to fish in the waters surrounding Katchatheevu island. Devananda remarks, “Given that it is election time in India, it is unsurprising to witness such assertions and counter-assertions regarding Kachchatheevu.”
“I believe India is pursuing its interests by securing control over this area to prevent Sri Lankan fishermen from accessing it and to refute any Sri Lankan claims to the resources in that region,” Devananda asserts. The Sri Lankan minister cites the 1974 agreement, which allowed fishermen from both countries to fish in each other’s territorial waters. However, this agreement was subsequently revised and amended in 1976, prohibiting fishermen from both nations from fishing in adjacent waters.
“There exists a region known as the West Bank, situated south of Kanyakumari—it is substantially larger in size and rich in maritime resources, approximately 80 times larger than Kachchatheevu, which India secured in the 1976 revision agreement,” Devananda elaborates.
Local fishermen have spearheaded extensive protests to halt the unlawful fishing activities of their Indian counterparts in Sri Lankan waters. They contend that the bottom trawling carried out by Indian fishermen is detrimental to the interests of the Sri Lankan fishing community. To date, the Sri Lanka Navy has arrested at least 178 Indian fishermen and seized 23 trawlers this year alone.
Devananda, a former Tamil militant who now heads the Eelam People’s Democratic Party, was declared a fugitive by a Chennai court in 1994. On Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) refrained from delving into the dispute surrounding Katchatheevu island. Responding to a barrage of queries on the issue, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal referred to recent statements made by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the matter.
“I wish to inform you that the external affairs minister has addressed the media here in Delhi and also in Gujarat, providing clarifications on all pertinent matters,” Jaiswal stated. “I would suggest that you refer to his press interactions for answers to your queries,” Jaiswal concluded in New Delhi.
