Context: The Tamil Nadu State Assembly adopted a resolution urging the Union government to review the Indo-Sri Lankan agreement of 1974, and take steps to retrieve Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka. Over the years, the Sri Lankan Navy has continued arresting Indian fishermen and seizing their vessels near the island.
Relevance of the Topic:Prelims: Key facts about Katchatheevu Island.
Katchatheevu Island
- Katchatheevu is a small uninhabited island (285 acre) in Palk Strait, that connects the Bay of Bengal to the Arabian Sea.
- Katchatheevu island was formed due to volcanic eruptions in the 14th century.
- It is administered by Sri Lanka at present.
Historical Control and Ownership:
- Ramanad Kingdom: The island was historically under the control of Ramanad Raja, a zamindar in Ramanathapuram in the Madras Presidency during British rule (1795 to 1803).
- Administration under British colonial rule: Katchatheevu was administered as part of the Madras Presidency.
- Disputed claims: Both countries have been claiming Katchatheevu since at least 1921, following a survey that placed the island within Sri Lanka’s boundaries.
- Contestation by British Indian Delegation: The British Indian delegation contested Sri Lanka's claim, citing the historical ownership of the Ramanad kingdom.
Fishermen of both countries have been fishing in each other's waters without conflict for a very long time. The issue emerged when India-Sri Lanka signed the maritime boundary agreement.
Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Boundary Agreement of 1974:
- The agreement was a treaty signed between the Indian government and the Sri Lankan government in 1974.
- It defined the maritime boundary between the two nations in the Palk Strait and near the Adam's Bridge.
- India recognised Sri Lanka’s sovereignty over the Katchatheevu island.
- It allowed Indian fishermen to access Katchatheevu for rest, drying of nets, and participation in the annual St. Anthony’s festival.
- It did not explicitly specify the fishing rights of Indians in the waters around Katchatheevu, leaving a critical issue unresolved.
LTTE era and restrictions on movement:
- During the LTTE (LiberationTigers of Tamil Eelam, a separatist group in Sri Lanka) era, the Sri Lankan government restricted the easy movement of Sri Lankan fishermen in waters raising military operations issues.
- In 2009, Sri Lanka started heavily guarding its maritime boundary in the Palk Strait. It was done to reduce the possibility of the return of Tamil insurgents to the country.
- The Indian fishermen considered this an opportunity. But, with the end of the war in 2010, Sri Lankan fishermen again started their movement in Palk Bay and reclaimed their lost legitimate territory.
Distress of Indian Fishermen
- The sea in the Palk Strait and the Adam's Bridge has for ages served as a traditional fishing ground for fishermen from both India and Sri Lanka. Indian fishermen, especially from Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram district, frequented the waters to fish.
- Climate change, a growth in fish demand and increased use of bottom trawlers of late has resulted in fishermen venturing beyond territorial waters to get a good catch. The lack of catch near the coast and an absence of demarcations, at times, drive the fishermen into the perceived Sri Lankan waters.
- The agreement of 1974 is often blamed for the distress of the Indian fishing community in the state of Tamil Nadu. The treaty deprived Indian fishermen of their traditional fishing rights in the sea around Katchatheevu island.