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Home / IAS Preparation / Katchatheevu Island Dispute

Katchatheevu Island Dispute: History, Significance & More | UPSC Notes

Last Updated on Apr 14, 2025
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Katchatheevu is a small, uninhabited island in the Palk Strait that separates India from Sri Lanka. This small, politically very strategic island has been a bone of contention between the two nations since almost the middle of the 20th century. The island possesses a richly historical and cultural bearing, being a prime factor in the geostrategic and diplomatic negotiations over maritime demarcation and rights of fishing. For its governance and the impact on local fishing communities, the island has made rounds in discourses on Indo-Sri Lankan relations.

This topic of Katchatheevu island comes under General Studies Paper II and comprises issues related to international relations, governance, and polity subjects of the UPSC Examination. More specifically, it deals with the aspects concerning India's foreign policy, bilateral relations, and the geopolitical importance of territorial disputes.

GS Paper

General Studies Paper II

Topics for UPSC Prelims

Katchatheevu Island, Indo-Sri Lankan Agreements, Maritime Boundaries, Fishermen's Rights, St. Antony’s Shrine, International Maritime Law, International Maritime Organization

Topics for UPSC Mains

Indo-Sri Lankan Relations, Territorial Disputes, Geopolitical Significance of the Indian Ocean Region, Sustainable Marine Resource Management

About Katchatheevu Island Sri Lanka

Katchatheevu Island lies roughly around 15 nautical miles northeast from Rameswaram, India, and 21 nautical miles southwest from Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The island is spread across one square mile. It characterizes a rocky topography with less expansion of flora. Now, despite the small size, the island of Katchatheevu has great strategic importance in the maritime area. This is basically owed to the geographical position of the island in the Palk Strait, an important waterway connecting the two countries. It also houses the St. Antony's Shrine, which is a church of religious importance to Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen and pilgrims, particularly during the annual festival of St. Antony.

History of the Katchatheevu Island

Katchatheevu Island has been shrouded in a rather complicated history of the colonial influence of territorial shifts. During the British colonial period, it was part of the then Madras Presidency, and Indian fishermen were traditionally using it to dry their nets and for a halting place. The question of sovereignty over Katchatheevu was a hotly contested issue between the two countries immediately after their independence. Prior to 1974, India and Sri Lanka both claimed sovereignty over the island, resulting in several rounds of diplomatic correspondence and negotiations. History says that this island earlier was a traditional fishing area for the fishermen in both the countries. The maritime boundary was not demarcated nor an agreement was signed.

Read the article on the Indian Ocean Rim Association! 

Katchatheevu Island Issue

Katchatheevu Island issue is a territorial dispute between Indian and Sri Lankan regarding aspects of sovereignty and fishing rights. India ceded the island to Sri Lanka under the Indo-Sri Lankan Agreements, in 1974 and 1976. These agreements clearly provided for the transfer of the sovereignty of this island to Sri Lanka but permitted visits by Indian fishermen there for drying their nets and for pilgrimage purposes without a visa. Over the years, however, there have been many cases of arrests and confrontations, with Indian fishermen allegedly making a hue and cry that strict vigilance by the Sri Lankan Navy leads to the violation of their traditional fishing rights. The issue has, therefore, taken a humanitarian angle, affecting the livelihoods of the fishermen in Tamil Nadu.

Stand of the Stakeholders on the Katchatheevu Island Issue

The dispute over the island of Katchatheevu involves major stake-holders and, therefore, many differently biased interests.

  • India: The Indian government ceded the island to Sri Lanka through the 1974 and 1976 agreements. The State Government of Tamil Nadu has also since then, been desperately urging for the retrieval of Katchatheevu by the Central Government, holding that the 1974 agreement failed to serve the interests of the Indian fishermen.
  • Sri Lanka: This island, according to the bilateral agreements, considers Katchatheevu as an integral part of their territory and exercises full sovereignty over the territory. The government has put strict maritime boundaries through which it sets and enforces moderation of fishing activities and eliminates illegal fishing.
  • Fishermen: Indian fishermen, more so from Tamil Nadu, feel the island is a must for their livelihood. They have been claiming historical fishing rights and demand access to traditional fishing grounds around the island without any hindrance. The fishermen of Sri Lanka welcome the implementation of territorial waters for the same reason: to avoid overfishing and to conserve marine resources.
  • Legal and International Bodies: Centres of focus of legal experts and international law are based on the agreements and their impacts on the portions of maritime law and bilateral relations. The issue often comes under discussion over international borderlining limits and rights of the seas.

Read the article on the UNCLOS maritime zones! 

Attempts of Resolution

The row over the Katchatheevu Island dispute has witnessed several diplomatic discussions and agreements between India and Sri Lanka to resolve the dispute:

  • 1974 Agreement: This was the formal cession of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka. It permitted Indian fishermen to visit this island for drying nets and to visit the St. Antony's Shrine without visas.
  • 1976 Maritime Boundary Agreement: This agreement demarcated more precisely the maritime boundary between the two nations, which was expected to avoid dispute over territorial waters and fishing rights.
  • Bilateral Talks: There have been umpteen numbers of bilateral talks over the years to allay the fears of fishermen and also to rationalize measures taken for maritime security. The fresh rounds of talks are also towards cooperative measures like joint patrolling and sharing of information for reduction in conflicts.
  • Judicial Interventions: Petitions and cases in Indian courts, questioning the validity of the agreements ceding Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, on some occasions, have been filed before the Indian courts. To some extent, the Indian judiciary has not sided with such arguments or agreements, which have really gone on to strengthen the official stand on the island's sovereignty issue.

Implications of the Katchatheevu Island Dispute

The out-turns of the Kachchatheevu Island problem extend far beyond mere territorial sovereignty:

  • Humanitarian: Strict enforcement by the Sri Lankan Navy of the maritime boundaries reflects socio-economic hardships on the fishing communities through the arrest of Indian fishermen on several occasions. Many such incidents cause diplomatic friction and also incite calls for intervention from the respective governments.
  • Geopolitical: The dispute forms a small part of much larger geopolitical dynamics in the Indian Ocean region that affects India's bilateral relations with Sri Lanka and regional security paradigms.
  • Economic: Fishing is the main economic activity for the people along the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, India, and Northern Sri Lanka. The dispute affects the fishermen's operations and coupled with the economic losses hence affecting the local economies which are based on these resources.
  • Environmental: Overfishing and unsustainable fishing methods within the disputed waters contribute to the degradation of marine diversity. There is a need for coordinated efforts to manage marine resources in a sustainable manner.

Read the article on the China Indian Ocean Region Forum! 

Significance of the Katchatheevu Island to India

Katchatheevu Island is of immense significance to India from various viewpoints:

  • Geopolitical Situation: The geographical location of the island in the Palk Strait assumes a very crucial role in terms of navigation and sea-borne trade and security. Any control over the island influences India's efficiency in observing and regulating maritime activities across this vital passage.
  • Cultural and Religious Ties: St. Antony's Shrine, which is of religious importance to Indian fishermen, especially those of Tamil Nadu, is located in Katchatheevu. It is a cultural link between the two countries.
  • Marine Resources: The sea surrounding Katchatheevu forms a reservoir of marine resources, which are basic in the survival of fishing in Tamil Nadu. Hence, access to those resources is vital to the local fishing occupations.

Read the article on the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium! 

Conclusion

The dispute over Katchatheevu Island brings into sharp focus issues as intricate as territorial sovereignty, maritime law, and the parameters of international relations. This is a case where the island was transferred to Sri Lanka via diplomatic talks, whereas now it seems to have been troubled with issues of fishing rights and regional conflicts, directly challenging the relations between the two nations. The said dispute can only be resolved through a sustained collaborative approach involving clear policies, cooperative maritime management, and humanitarian considerations that may involve reconciliation measures at both ends to retain the harmony between India and Sri Lanka.

Key Takeaways for UPSC Aspirants

  • Location: It is a tiny uninhabited island in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka.
  • Historical Background: A disputed area claimed by both India and Sri Lanka was given to Sri Lanka after the 1974 and 1976 agreements.
  • Strategic Significance: The place is of much strategic and geopolitical significance as it is situated at the Indian Ocean.
  • Fishing Rights: Vital for Tamil Nadu fishermen, hence frequent disputes and tensions concerning fishing rights and territorial waters.
  • Legal Status: Officially a part of Sri Lanka, though considered a disputed matter with frequent demands in India for its retrieval.
  • Diplomatic Relations: To be decided through diplomatic negotiations and discussions between India and Sri Lanka.
  • Cultural Significance: It hosts an annual St. Anthony's festival that draws pilgrims from both India and Sri Lanka.
  • Environmental Considerations: That is a principal zone of marine biodiversity—a zone where conservation measures and sustainable fishing practices should be implemented.

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Katchatheevu Island UPSC FAQs

Katchatheevu Island was ceded to Sri Lanka as part of the 1974 and 1976 agreements between India and Sri Lanka to demarcate maritime boundaries and resolve territorial disputes.

Katchatheevu Island has been very important to Indian fishermen in Tamil Nadu for their being a traditional fishing ground, besides being an access to St. Antony's Shrine, a site of immense religious value.

Key issues of conflict are territorial sovereignty over the island, rights over fishing, and the issue of treatment meted out to arrested fishermen, by the Sri Lankan Navy.

Both India and Sri Lanka have had bilateral discussions coupled with agreements signed in 1974 and 1976 over issues such as territory and fishing, but the disputes still occur.

It affects bilateral relations by way of diplomatic tensions, fishermen's livelihood, and regional security and economic dynamics.
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