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| {{Short description| |
{{Short description|Island of Sri Lanka}} | ||
| {{pp|small=yes}} | {{pp|small=yes}} | ||
| {{Infobox islands | {{Infobox islands | ||
| | name = Katchatheevu | | name = Katchatheevu | ||
| | native_name = |
| native_name = | ||
| | native_name_link = | | native_name_link = | ||
| | native_name_lang = |
| native_name_lang = | ||
| | sobriquet = | | sobriquet = | ||
| | image_name = | | image_name = | ||
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| | major_islands = | | major_islands = | ||
| | area_acre = 285 | | area_acre = 285 | ||
| | area_footnotes = <ref name="Tamil Nadu (India) Nagarajan">{{cite book | author=Tamil Nadu (India) | last2=Nagarajan | first2=N. | last3=Subramanian | first3=K. | title=History of Land Revenue Settlement and Abolition of Intermediary Tenures in Tamil Nadu | publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu | year=1977 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9Lzis-Kx29UC| page=195}}</ref> | | area_footnotes = <ref name="TIE"/><ref name="Tamil Nadu (India) Nagarajan">{{cite book | author=Tamil Nadu (India) | last2=Nagarajan | first2=N. | last3=Subramanian | first3=K. | title=History of Land Revenue Settlement and Abolition of Intermediary Tenures in Tamil Nadu | publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu | year=1977 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9Lzis-Kx29UC| page=195}}</ref> | ||
| | area_km2 = | |||
| | rank = | | rank = | ||
| | length_km = |
| length_km = 1.6 | ||
| | length_footnotes = | | length_footnotes = <ref name="TIE"/> | ||
| | |
| width_m = 300 | ||
| | width_footnotes = | | width_footnotes =<ref name="TIE"/> | ||
| | coastline_km = <!-- or |coastline_m= --> | | coastline_km = <!-- or |coastline_m= --> | ||
| | coastline_footnotes = | | coastline_footnotes = | ||
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| | elevation_footnotes = | | elevation_footnotes = | ||
| | highest_mount = | | highest_mount = | ||
| | country = |
| country = {{flag|Sri Lanka}} | ||
| | country_admin_divisions_title = ] | | country_admin_divisions_title = ] | ||
| | country_admin_divisions = ] | | country_admin_divisions = ] | ||
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| ] | ] | ||
| '''Katchatheevu''' is an uninhabited island of ] in the ], formed from a 14th-century ]. It is located 24 kilometers off the coast of ] (Delft Island), Sri Lanka, and 33 kilometers from ], India. Initially a ] between India and Sri Lanka over fishing rights, the dispute was resolved in 1974 when India renounced its claim to the island in exchange for fishing rights for Indian fishermen. However, this right was later reneged upon by Sri Lanka.<ref name="TIE">{{cite news |last1=Sengupta |first1=Arjun |title=Did Congress ‘give away’ Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-politics/katchatheevu-island-modi-nehru-congress-dmk-9242985/ |access-date=31 March 2024 |work=] |date=31 March 2024}}</ref> | |||
| It has been traditionally used for fishing activities by both ] and ] fishermen.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6V2KCgAAQBAJ&q=Kachchatheevu&pg=PT482|title=The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy|last1=Malone|first1=David M.|last2=Mohan|first2=C. Raja|last3=Raghavan|first3=Srinath|date=2015-07-23|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=9780191061196|language=en}}</ref> During the early ], the island was controlled by the ] of present-day Sri Lanka, before coming under the ] ''raja'' of ] in what is now ], India. Subsequently, it became part of the ] during the ].<ref name="TIE"/> In 1920, Britain sought to demarcate a maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka to delineate their respective ]. Both colonies asserted ownership of the island. In 1921, colonial delegations representing India and ] reached a consensus on a "Fisheries Line", placing the island within Sri Lanka's area, although the Indian delegation stipulated that this line should not be seen as a territorial boundary to prevent undermining any potential territorial claim by India. Nonetheless, this agreement lacked ratification by both delegations and was not officially approved by the ].<ref name="Chatterjee 2024 p. 165">{{cite book | last=Chatterjee | first=A.K. | title=Adam’s Bridge: Sacrality, Performance, and Heritage of an Oceanic Marvel | publisher=Taylor & Francis | series=Ocean and Island Studies | year=2024 | isbn=978-1-003-85912-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KHrsEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA165 | access-date=2024-03-31 | page=165}}</ref> | |||
| '''Katchatheevu'''{{refn|{{lang-ta|கச்சத்தீவு|translit=Kaccattīvu}}, {{lang-si|කච්චතීවු|translit=kaccatīvu}}}} is an uninhabited island in ]. The island was controlled by the ] (now Sri Lanka) since 1921.<ref name="Chatterjee 2024 p. 165">{{cite book | last=Chatterjee | first=A.K. | title=Adam’s Bridge: Sacrality, Performance, and Heritage of an Oceanic Marvel | publisher=Taylor & Francis | series=Ocean and Island Studies | year=2024 | isbn=978-1-003-85912-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KHrsEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA165 | access-date=2024-03-31 | page=165}}</ref> Though the Indian government never controlled it, the island remained disputed until 1974 between India and Sri Lanka when India recognised Sri Lanka's sovereignty over the island.<ref name=":asian"/><ref name="Tamil Nadu (India)">{{cite book | author=Tamil Nadu (India) | last2=Nagarajan | first2=N. | last3=Subramanian | first3=K. | title=History of Land Revenue Settlement and Abolition of Intermediary Tenures in Tamil Nadu | publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu | year=1977 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9Lzis-Kx29UC | quote=This was followed up by a meeting of the officials of India and Sri Lanka at Delhi when they decided to adopt the median line as the line of demarcation with a deviation around Katchatheevu including it in Sri Lanka's limits| page=196}}</ref> | |||
| Amidst the continued dispute, in 1974, then ], ], signed the Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement with ] ], which recognized Katchatheevu as a territory of Sri Lanka and renounced India's claim.<ref>{{cite news |last=Thangavelu |first=Dharani |title=Katchatheevu: The big issue over a small island |url=https://www.livemint.com/Politics/acjYPxP6XuKnlTLqJ2P3QI/Katchatheevu-The-big-issue-over-a-small-island.html |access-date=31 March 2024 |work=] |date=15 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="Tamil Nadu (India)">{{cite book | author=Tamil Nadu (India) | last2=Nagarajan | first2=N. | last3=Subramanian | first3=K. | title=History of Land Revenue Settlement and Abolition of Intermediary Tenures in Tamil Nadu | publisher=Government of Tamil Nadu | year=1977 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9Lzis-Kx29UC | quote=This was followed up by a meeting of the officials of India and Sri Lanka at Delhi when they decided to adopt the median line as the line of demarcation with a deviation around Katchatheevu including it in Sri Lanka's limits| page=196}}</ref> In exchange, Indian fishermen were granted right to fish in the surrounding waters. However, Sri Lanka later imposed restrictions on Indian fishermen, limiting their access to Katchatheevu only to rest, drying fishnets, and pilgrimage to the ] without requiring a ]. Another agreement signed in 1976 further restricted both countries' fishermen from operating in each other's ].<ref name="TIE"/> | |||
| The island is located between ], ] and ], ] and has been traditionally used by both ] and ] fishermen.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6V2KCgAAQBAJ&q=Kachchatheevu&pg=PT482|title=The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy|last1=Malone|first1=David M.|last2=Mohan|first2=C. Raja|last3=Raghavan|first3=Srinath|date=2015-07-23|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=9780191061196|language=en}}</ref><ref name=ktech1/> In 1974, then Prime Minister of India, ] accepted Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan area under the ''"Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement"'' aimed at resolving the maritime boundaries in the ].<ref name=ktech1/> Another agreement signed in 1976 restricted both the countries’ fishermen from fishing in the other’s ].<ref name=ktech1/> | |||
| Earlier, it was owned by the ] of Ramanathapuram ] which later came under the ] during ]. By 1920, Sri Lanka reinstated its claims to Katchatheevu and the island went within the Sri Lankan territory in 1921.<ref name="Chatterjee 2024 p. 165"/><ref name=ktech1>, ], 15 Jun 2016.</ref> | |||
| == History == | == History == | ||
| ⚫ | The oldest known name of the island, Kacci (modern Kaccativu), is mentioned in the Rameswaram Inscription of King ] (1187-1196 A.D.), the king of Sri Lanka, along with other nearby islands including Puvagu (modern Pungudutivu), Mininak (Maninaga), and Kara (modern Karaitivu)<ref name="Paranavitana1970">{{cite journal|last=Paranavitana|first=S.|title=Ramesvaram inscription of Nissankamalla|journal=Epigraphia Indica|volume=XXXVI|pages=23–32|year=1970}}</ref><ref name="Ranawella2007">{{cite book|last=Ranawella|first=S.|title=Inscription of Ceylon|volume=VI|publisher=Department of Archaeology|isbn=978-955-91-59-61-2|pages=117–125|year=2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Ranawella |first=S. |author-link= |date=2007 |title=Inscriptions of Ceylon, Volume VI |url= |location= |publisher=Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka) |page=117-125 |isbn=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Manjula, H.A.K.L. |url=https://www.lankapradeepa.com/2024/02/kachchativu-island.html |title=Kachchativu Island and Church (Sri Lanka) |publisher=Lankapradeepa |date=2024-02-10 |access-date=2024-03-31}}</ref>. The inscription states that Nissankamalla visited these islands during his expeditions within his realm.<ref name="Paranavitana1970"/><ref name="Ranawella2007"/> Historically, the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, who colonized Ceylon, exercised control over Kachchativu Island.<ref name="DeSilva2008">{{cite book|last=De Silva|first=S.|title=Sharing Maritime Boundary with India Sri Lankan Experience|publisher=Faculty of Defence & Strategic Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University|pages=3–4, 7–9|year=2008}}</ref><ref name="Mayilvaganan2019">{{cite journal|last=Mayilvaganan|first=M.|title='Trouble waters': Maritime issues in Palk Strait, Indian Ocean|journal=Samudera-Journal of Maritime and Coastal Studies|volume=1|issue=1|pages=35–48|year=2019}}</ref> The British occasionally used the island as a naval gunnery practice range since 1920.<ref name="Muni1974">{{cite journal|last=Muni|first=S. D.|title=Kachchativu settlement: Befriending neighbouring regimes|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|pages=1119–1122|year=1974}}</ref><ref name="Raju2009">{{cite book|last=Raju|first=A. S.|chapter=The (in) security of fishermen in South Asia|title=Fisheries exploitation in the Indian Ocean: Threats and opportunities|pages=163–174|year=2009}}</ref>. During the medieval period, this island along with Pamban Island was in the possession of ]{{Source needed|date=April 2024|reason=No reference for Jaffna's Kingdom "real" or "true" control of both Pamban Island and Katchatheevu ; Outside of traditionnal Jaffna Tamil Historians claim of it based on the title of Jaffna's Kings (Sethukavalar)}}. From 17th century onwards island used to be a part of the ] which existed in ] or region of India. Later, with ] on the ], the island became part of the ].<ref name=":0" /> | ||
| ⚫ | The oldest known name of the island, Kacci (modern Kaccativu), is mentioned in the Rameswaram Inscription of King ] (1187-1196 A.D.), the king of Sri Lanka, along with other nearby islands including Puvagu (modern Pungudutivu), Mininak (Maninaga), and Kara (modern Karaitivu)<ref name="Paranavitana1970">{{cite journal|last=Paranavitana|first=S.|title=Ramesvaram inscription of Nissankamalla|journal=Epigraphia Indica|volume=XXXVI|pages=23–32|year=1970}}</ref><ref name="Ranawella2007">{{cite book|last=Ranawella|first=S.|title=Inscription of Ceylon|volume=VI|publisher=Department of Archaeology|isbn=978-955-91-59-61-2|pages=117–125|year=2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Ranawella |first=S. |author-link= |date=2007 |title=Inscriptions of Ceylon, Volume VI |url= |location= |publisher=Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka) |page=117-125 |isbn=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Manjula, H.A.K.L. |url=https://www.lankapradeepa.com/2024/02/kachchativu-island.html |title=Kachchativu Island and Church (Sri Lanka) |publisher=Lankapradeepa |date=2024-02-10 |access-date=2024-03-31}}</ref>. The inscription states that Nissankamalla visited these islands during his expeditions within his realm.<ref name="Paranavitana1970"/><ref name="Ranawella2007"/> |
||
| The dispute over the island between the Sri Lankan and the Indian colonial governments arose in 1920. While Indian view was that the island was part India because it belonged to a landlord of the Raja of Ramnad, B. Horsburgh opposed this view and cited evidence that Katchatheevu island along with the St. Anthony's Church on the island belonged to Jaffna Diocese. By 1921, both sides then agreed on a border that put the island within the Sri Lankan territory.<ref name="Chatterjee 2024 p. 165"/> | The dispute over the island between the Sri Lankan and the Indian colonial governments arose in 1920. While Indian view was that the island was part India because it belonged to a landlord of the Raja of Ramnad, B. Horsburgh opposed this view and cited evidence that Katchatheevu island along with the St. Anthony's Church on the island belonged to Jaffna Diocese. By 1921, both sides then agreed on a border that put the island within the Sri Lankan territory.<ref name="Chatterjee 2024 p. 165"/> | ||
Revision as of 09:36, 2 April 2024
Island of Sri Lanka  Katchatheevu | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 9°23′0″N 79°31′0″E / 9.38333°N 79.51667°E / 9.38333; 79.51667 |
| Area | 285 acres (115 ha) |
| Length | 1.6 km (0.99 mi) |
| Width | 300 m (1000 ft) |
| Administration | |
 Sri Lanka | |
| Province | Northern |
| District | Jaffna |
| DS Division | Delft |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
Katchatheevu is an uninhabited island of Sri Lanka in the Palk Strait, formed from a 14th-century volcanic eruption. It is located 24 kilometers off the coast of Neduntheevu (Delft Island), Sri Lanka, and 33 kilometers from Rameswaram, India. Initially a disputed territory between India and Sri Lanka over fishing rights, the dispute was resolved in 1974 when India renounced its claim to the island in exchange for fishing rights for Indian fishermen. However, this right was later reneged upon by Sri Lanka.
It has been traditionally used for fishing activities by both Sri Lankan Tamil and Tamil Nadu fishermen. During the early medieval period, the island was controlled by the Jaffna kingdom of present-day Sri Lanka, before coming under the zamindari raja of Ramnad in what is now Ramanathapuram, India. Subsequently, it became part of the Madras Presidency during the British Raj. In 1920, Britain sought to demarcate a maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka to delineate their respective fishing industries. Both colonies asserted ownership of the island. In 1921, colonial delegations representing India and Ceylon reached a consensus on a "Fisheries Line", placing the island within Sri Lanka's area, although the Indian delegation stipulated that this line should not be seen as a territorial boundary to prevent undermining any potential territorial claim by India. Nonetheless, this agreement lacked ratification by both delegations and was not officially approved by the Secretary of State for India.
Amidst the continued dispute, in 1974, then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, signed the Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime Agreement with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, which recognized Katchatheevu as a territory of Sri Lanka and renounced India's claim. In exchange, Indian fishermen were granted right to fish in the surrounding waters. However, Sri Lanka later imposed restrictions on Indian fishermen, limiting their access to Katchatheevu only to rest, drying fishnets, and pilgrimage to the St. Antony's Shrine without requiring a visa. Another agreement signed in 1976 further restricted both countries' fishermen from operating in each other's exclusive economic zones.
History
The oldest known name of the island, Kacci (modern Kaccativu), is mentioned in the Rameswaram Inscription of King Nissanka Malla (1187-1196 A.D.), the king of Sri Lanka, along with other nearby islands including Puvagu (modern Pungudutivu), Mininak (Maninaga), and Kara (modern Karaitivu). The inscription states that Nissankamalla visited these islands during his expeditions within his realm. Historically, the Portuguese, Dutch, and British, who colonized Ceylon, exercised control over Kachchativu Island. The British occasionally used the island as a naval gunnery practice range since 1920.. During the medieval period, this island along with Pamban Island was in the possession of Jaffna kingdom. From 17th century onwards island used to be a part of the Ramnad Kingdom which existed in Madurai (Madura) district or region of India. Later, with British rule on the Indian subcontinent, the island became part of the Madras Presidency.
The dispute over the island between the Sri Lankan and the Indian colonial governments arose in 1920. While Indian view was that the island was part India because it belonged to a landlord of the Raja of Ramnad, B. Horsburgh opposed this view and cited evidence that Katchatheevu island along with the St. Anthony's Church on the island belonged to Jaffna Diocese. By 1921, both sides then agreed on a border that put the island within the Sri Lankan territory.
Ownership of the island was a dispute between India and Sri Lanka up until 1974 as during the British rule. It was never demarcated by the Indian government. India recognized ownership of Sri Lanka over the island in 1974. The legality of the transfer was challenged in the Indian Supreme Court since the recognizing was not ratified by the Indian Parliament. This recognition of an island that is culturally important to fishermen of Tamil Nadu state in India has led to some agitations by Tamil Nadu politicians that it should be claimed to Indian sovereignty. The island is also important for fishing grounds used by fishers from both countries. The Indo-Sri Lankan agreement allows Indian fishermen to fish around Katchatheevu and to dry their nets on the island. As part of the Sri Lankan Civil War, the arrangement led to many difficulties with the Sri Lankan Navy, which was deployed to prevent smuggling of weapons by the rebel group LTTE. The island has a Catholic shrine that attracted devotees from both countries.
The main problem continues to grow as more fisherman move into the Sri Lankan sea area for illegal poaching. In 2010 the Sri Lankan government issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu government saying the Indian court cannot nullify the 1974 agreement.
In June 2011 the new Tamil Nadu government led by the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, J. Jayalalithaa, filed a petition in the Supreme Court that the declaration of the 1974 and 1976 agreements between India and Sri Lanka on ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka were unconstitutional. The court ruled in the Berubari case that the cession of Indian territory to another country had to be ratified by parliament through amendment of the Constitution.
The Indian government in February 2014 stated, "No territory belonging to India was ceded nor sovereignty relinquished since the area was in dispute and had never been demarcated." The government added that the agreements did not require a constitutional amendment because no territory was ceded.
St. Anthony's Shrine
St Antony's shrine is the only structure on the island. It is a shrine-church named after Antony of Padua, considered a patron saint of seafarers by Christians. It was built by a prosperous Indian Catholic (Tamilian) fisherman Srinivasa Padaiyachi in the early 20th century. The annual church festival runs for three days. Christian priests from both India and Sri Lanka conduct the worship services (mass) and procession. Pilgrims from India are ferried mostly from Rameswaram. According to the agreement between the Indian and Sri Lankan government, the citizens of India are not required to possess an Indian passport or Sri Lankan visa for visiting Kachchatheevu.
See also
- Extreme points of Sri Lanka
- India–Sri Lanka maritime boundary agreements
- Palk Strait bridge
- India - Sri Lanka land border
References
- ^ Sengupta, Arjun (31 March 2024). "Did Congress 'give away' Katchatheevu island to Sri Lanka?". The Indian Express. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- Tamil Nadu (India); Nagarajan, N.; Subramanian, K. (1977). History of Land Revenue Settlement and Abolition of Intermediary Tenures in Tamil Nadu. Government of Tamil Nadu. p. 195.
- ^ Malone, David M.; Mohan, C. Raja; Raghavan, Srinath (2015-07-23). The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy. OUP Oxford. ISBN 9780191061196.
- ^ Chatterjee, A.K. (2024). Adam’s Bridge: Sacrality, Performance, and Heritage of an Oceanic Marvel. Ocean and Island Studies. Taylor & Francis. p. 165. ISBN 978-1-003-85912-3. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- Thangavelu, Dharani (15 June 2016). "Katchatheevu: The big issue over a small island". Mint. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
- Tamil Nadu (India); Nagarajan, N.; Subramanian, K. (1977). History of Land Revenue Settlement and Abolition of Intermediary Tenures in Tamil Nadu. Government of Tamil Nadu. p. 196.
This was followed up by a meeting of the officials of India and Sri Lanka at Delhi when they decided to adopt the median line as the line of demarcation with a deviation around Katchatheevu including it in Sri Lanka's limits
- ^ Paranavitana, S. (1970). "Ramesvaram inscription of Nissankamalla". Epigraphia Indica. XXXVI: 23–32.
- ^ Ranawella, S. (2007). Inscription of Ceylon. Vol. VI. Department of Archaeology. pp. 117–125. ISBN 978-955-91-59-61-2.
- Ranawella, S. (2007). Inscriptions of Ceylon, Volume VI. Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). p. 117-125.
- Manjula, H.A.K.L. (2024-02-10). "Kachchativu Island and Church (Sri Lanka)". Lankapradeepa. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- De Silva, S. (2008). Sharing Maritime Boundary with India Sri Lankan Experience. Faculty of Defence & Strategic Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. pp. 3–4, 7–9.
- Mayilvaganan, M. (2019). "'Trouble waters': Maritime issues in Palk Strait, Indian Ocean". Samudera-Journal of Maritime and Coastal Studies. 1 (1): 35–48.
- Muni, S. D. (1974). "Kachchativu settlement: Befriending neighbouring regimes". Economic and Political Weekly: 1119–1122.
- Raju, A. S. (2009). "The (in) security of fishermen in South Asia". Fisheries exploitation in the Indian Ocean: Threats and opportunities. pp. 163–174.
- ^ Special Correspondent (2014-02-08). "Kachatheevu was not ceded to Sri Lanka & can't be retrieved – Government Of India". The Hindu. Retrieved 2014-02-18.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - "The Hindu : 'Cannot return Kachchativu'". Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
- Gamini Gunaratna, Sri Lanka News Paper by LankaPage.com (LLC)- Latest Hot News from Sri Lanka (2011-04-17). "Sri Lanka : Sri Lankan minister says Indian court cannot nullify accord on Kachchativu Island". Colombopage.com. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
- Special Correspondent (2011-06-10). "Today's Paper News : Resolution passed on Katchatheevu". The Hindu. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)
| Geography of Sri Lanka | |
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| Climate | |
| Geology | |
| Extreme points | |
| Landforms | |
| Bordering entities | |
| Subdivisions | |
| Settlements | |
| Environment | |