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Katchatheevu Island: Navigating Beyond Political Rhetoric

The Katchatheevu Island issue extends beyond political rhetoric. A reevaluation of the situation could ensure India’s alignment with long-term interests, both domestically and in future geopolitical contests in the Indian Ocean.

By Srijan Sharma
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Katchatheevu island

Katchatheevu Island | Photo courtesy: Public domain

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As the BJP strives to gain traction in the South with its new leader, Annamalai, an important geopolitical debate has surfaced in the past few days.This debate has the potential to influence both the internal and external dynamics of the country. It centers on the decision to give Katchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka in 1974 through an agreement. It's not just about who owns the island; it also affects the relationship between India and Sri Lanka including strategic interests of both sides. 

The History 

Katchatheevu Island, with 285 acres of land, was under the control of the Jaffna Kingdom during mediaeval times, and according to the Rameshwaram Inscription, Sri Lankan ruler King Nissanka Malla used to visit this island. Later, in the post-medieval period, specifically in the 17th century, the island became part of the Ramanath Kingdom, ruled by Rajas with the title of Sethupathis. Eventually, the kingdom became a district under the Madras Presidency in British India, thus making Katchatheevu Island a part of the Madras Presidency. In 1920, the British used this island for gunnery practices.

The dispute began when both states claimed ownership of the island, citing historical evidence. Sri Lanka asserted that the island was part of the Jaffna Kingdom and had even been occupied by the Portuguese. India asserted that the island was the last outpost of the Ramanath Kingdom, which later became part of the Madras Presidency. The dispute persisted until a breakthrough in 1974 when both states signed a maritime boundary agreement that included ceding the island to Colombo.

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The 1974 and 1976 Agreement

The trigger for this agreement mainly came from geopol

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