NEW DELHI: Speaking on the status of Katchatheevu island, Sri Lankan minister of fisheries Douglas Devananda said that the statements coming out of India on “reclaiming” Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka have “no ground”.
The senior Sri Lankan Tamil politician’s remarks followed recent accusations by PM Modi government towards the Congress party and its ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, alleging neglect of national interests in the transfer of Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974.
The BJP has also directed criticism at the two parties for purportedly failing to ensure the rights of fishermen wishing to operate in waters surrounding Katchatheevu island.
“It is the election time in India, it is not unusual to hear such noises of claims and counterclaims about Katchatheevu,” Devananda said during a press interaction in Jaffna on Thursday.
“I think India is acting on its interests to secure this place to ensure Sri Lankan fishermen would not have any access to that area and that Sri Lanka should not claim any rights in that resourceful area” Devananda further added.
Devananda reiterated that claims of “reclaiming” Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka are unfounded. According to him, the 1974 agreement permitted fishermen from both nations to fish in each other’s territorial waters. However, subsequent reviews, notably in 1976, resulted in prohibitions on fishing in adjacent waters for both sides.
“There claims to be a place called West Bank which is located below Kanyakumari – it is a much bigger area with extensive sea resources – it is 80 times bigger than Katchatheevu, India secured it at the 1976 review agreement.” Devananda highlighted.
As the minister of fisheries, Devananda has faced mounting pressure from local fishermen in recent months. Protests have erupted against alleged illegal fishing activities by Indian counterparts within Sri Lankan waters, with local fishermen arguing that Indian bottom trawling practices undermine their interests.
Since the beginning of this year, the Sri Lanka Navy has reportedly apprehended 178 Indian fishermen and 23 trawlers. Devananda, once a Tamil militant and now heading the Eelam People’s Democratic Party, was declared a proclaimed offender by a court in Chennai in 1994.
Jaishankar had earlier strongly criticized the Congress and DMK, accusing them of treating the Katchatheevu issue with indifference. He stressed the importance of transparency, asserting that the public deserves to understand the circumstances surrounding the transfer of Katchatheevu.
(With agency inputs)
The senior Sri Lankan Tamil politician’s remarks followed recent accusations by PM Modi government towards the Congress party and its ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, alleging neglect of national interests in the transfer of Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka in 1974.
The BJP has also directed criticism at the two parties for purportedly failing to ensure the rights of fishermen wishing to operate in waters surrounding Katchatheevu island.
“It is the election time in India, it is not unusual to hear such noises of claims and counterclaims about Katchatheevu,” Devananda said during a press interaction in Jaffna on Thursday.
“I think India is acting on its interests to secure this place to ensure Sri Lankan fishermen would not have any access to that area and that Sri Lanka should not claim any rights in that resourceful area” Devananda further added.
Devananda reiterated that claims of “reclaiming” Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka are unfounded. According to him, the 1974 agreement permitted fishermen from both nations to fish in each other’s territorial waters. However, subsequent reviews, notably in 1976, resulted in prohibitions on fishing in adjacent waters for both sides.
“There claims to be a place called West Bank which is located below Kanyakumari – it is a much bigger area with extensive sea resources – it is 80 times bigger than Katchatheevu, India secured it at the 1976 review agreement.” Devananda highlighted.
As the minister of fisheries, Devananda has faced mounting pressure from local fishermen in recent months. Protests have erupted against alleged illegal fishing activities by Indian counterparts within Sri Lankan waters, with local fishermen arguing that Indian bottom trawling practices undermine their interests.
Since the beginning of this year, the Sri Lanka Navy has reportedly apprehended 178 Indian fishermen and 23 trawlers. Devananda, once a Tamil militant and now heading the Eelam People’s Democratic Party, was declared a proclaimed offender by a court in Chennai in 1994.
Jaishankar had earlier strongly criticized the Congress and DMK, accusing them of treating the Katchatheevu issue with indifference. He stressed the importance of transparency, asserting that the public deserves to understand the circumstances surrounding the transfer of Katchatheevu.
(With agency inputs)