- Says no plans to evict anyone to develop site
- Plans to improve connectivity, religious tourism
The Government will address concerns raised by the Catholic Church and community about the controversial Katchatheevu tourism project, The Sunday Morning learns.
This, as the Government has reiterated its commitment to move forward with the project.
Speaking to The Sunday Morning, Deputy Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake said that the Government would take steps to address the concerns of the Catholic community regarding the proposed Katchatheevu tourism project.
He stressed that the Government would not move forward with any aspect of the initiative that disregarded the religious significance of the island.
“The Government will try to iron out the concerns of the Catholic community. A development project that does not complement the religious sanctity of the location is without purpose,” Dissanayake said.
“We must and will respect the views of all worshippers. The Government has no intention of forcibly evicting anyone or proceeding with construction that would breach the sanctity of the site.”
Dissanayake added that while protests were not unusual in relation to sensitive projects, the Presidential Secretariat was directly overseeing the initiative and had instructed that all reasonable demands made by stakeholders had to be considered during the planning and implementation stages.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Thushara Rodrigo described the initiative as “a policy decision undertaken in the best interest of the nation and its people”. He stressed that no work would begin until all required procedures were completed.
Explaining the initiative as a project to uplift and benefit the people of the region, Rodrigo stated that the Katchatheevu project was a forward-thinking, development-oriented endeavour.
“It is not merely a tourism development plan, but a comprehensive vision aimed at advancing the immense potential of the northern region for the benefit of all citizens. This project is aimed at improving regional connectivity, enhancing the potential of religious tourism, and advancing the lives of the people in the region,” he said.
Commenting on the ongoing feasibility study, Rodrigo stated that a comprehensive technical impact assessment would be conducted before any part of the project began. “The implementation will adhere to all established protocols, including technical, social, and economic assessments, and follow all official procurement procedures to ensure compliance with the rule of law,” he added.
The Catholic Church, led by the Jaffna Diocese, had strongly objected to the development proposal, warning that the project could undermine the religious significance of Katchatheevu.
Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam said: “Turning this sacred island into a tourist destination would be an insult to religion. Katchatheevu is a place of worship and pilgrimage, not of entertainment.”
The Bishop noted that the island was home to the historic St. Antony’s Shrine, which holds an annual feast attended by thousands of devotees from both Sri Lanka and India. He warned that any development that compromised this tradition would not be acceptable to the Catholic community.
Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar, speaking in Katchatheevu recently, confirmed that a feasibility study was currently being conducted. He explained that the project included proposals to connect Neduntheevu (Delft) and Katchatheevu as part of a broader effort to boost regional tourism.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who also spoke in Katchatheevu recently, reiterated the Government’s stance that while the project aimed to improve economic opportunities, Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity and the religious sanctity of the island would not be compromised.
Minister Chandrasekar could not be contacted for further comment.