Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar says that the Katchatheevu Island, which belongs to Sri Lanka under international law and diplomatic agreements, cannot be handed over to anyone under any circumstances.
He made these remarks in response to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s statement made on 27 June during a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) event in New Delhi. Jaishankar had commented that the transfer of Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka occurred during a period of emergency rule in India, and that unresolved issues in Tamil Nadu stem from this move.
Minister Chandrasekar stressed that according to the bilateral agreement signed in 1974 between then Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike and Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the sovereignty of Katchatheevu Island was formally recognised as belonging to Sri Lanka.
He further noted that despite this agreement, Katchatheevu continues to be used as a controversial topic during Indian election campaigns, with repeated calls from Indian politicians for its return.
Reiterating Sri Lanka’s firm stance, Minister Chandrasekar emphasised that Katchatheevu is Sri Lankan territory and will never be returned to India.
