Katchatheevu Island

About Katchatheevu Island

• Location: Katchatheevu is a small, uninhabited island located in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka.
  • It lies 33 km northeast of Rameswaram and 62 km southwest of Jaffna.
• Geographical Features:
  • Formation: It was formed through volcanic activity during the 14th century.
  • Water Availability: The island has no source of drinking water, making it unsuitable for permanent settlement.
• Historical Background:
  • Historical Control: The Jaffna kingdom governed it during the early medieval period.
    • By the 17th century, control shifted to the Raja of Ramnad, and it later became part of the Madras Presidency.
  • Colonial Dispute: In 1921, British India and Sri Lanka both claimed the island while determining fishing boundaries.
• Maritime Dispute:
  • International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL): The maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka was delineated through the 1974 agreement.
    • It determines the limits of their maritime zones, including territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs).
  • 1974 Agreement: Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Sirima R. D. Bandaranaike signed an agreement recognising Katchatheevu as part of Sri Lankan territory.
  • Access Rights: Indian fishermen could visit the island to rest, dry their nets and visit St. Anthony’s Church.
    • However, the agreement did not settle fishing rights.
  • 1976 Agreement: A subsequent treaty restricted fishermen from both countries from fishing in each other’s EEZs, leaving fishing rights a continuing source of uncertainty.
• Current Position: Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said India had acknowledged before the Supreme Court that Katchatheevu belongs to Sri Lanka.
  • He also reiterated that Sri Lanka would not allow its airspace, land or sea to be used in a manner that threatens India.