• Plans still in study phase, no project or groundwork initiated
• MFA says President’s visit does not impact Indo-Lanka relations

The recent visit to Katchatheevu Island in the northern territorial waters by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake during an official visit to Jaffna has swung the regional spotlight back on a matter which has been until now a seasonal bilateral irritant that both Governments across the Palk Strait have often brushed off.

The unprecedented move by a Sri Lankan Head of State ignited the imagination of some segments of the Indian domestic media landscape and State political voices.

When asked if the visit by President Dissanayake to Katchatheevu and the proposed tourism project which is being considered would have an impact on Indo-Lanka relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Thushara Rodrigo said: “Sri Lanka and India are strong democracies, and our relationship will not be strained by discussions of development in Katchatheevu.”

He explained that the two nations had built their partnership on deep foundations of respect and cooperation and that these values would guide them as they navigated sensitive issues related to the island, adding that Sri Lanka respected religious sensitivities and the rule of law and that both countries must act on those principles to preserve their democracies.

Rodrigo also dismissed concerns that Dissanayake’s recent visit to Katchatheevu would inflame relations with New Delhi. He described the visit as a symbolic reaffirmation of Sri Lanka’s sovereignty and stressed that it would not undermine the goodwill and mutual understanding that existed between the two countries. He further emphasised that the sanctity of religious spaces such as St. Anthony’s Church must be safeguarded, but that such issues should not be conflated with geopolitical disputes.

A small island with significance

The island of Katchatheevu, which lies in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka, has long been a point of political contention. Though it measures only 285 acres, it occupies an outsized place in the narratives of sovereignty, religious devotion, and livelihood that stretch across the strait. Its status was formally settled in the 1970s through bilateral agreements in which India recognised Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, but in Tamil Nadu the issue has remained politically potent for decades.

The 1974 Indo-Sri Lanka Maritime Agreement handed sovereignty of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka while allowing Indian fishermen and pilgrims to visit without visas. This agreement, however, did not extend fishing rights to Indian vessels, a fact that became more explicit in the 1976 accord, which prohibited Indian fishermen from Sri Lankan waters. While the agreements remain legally binding, Tamil Nadu politicians have repeatedly argued that India ceded the island without proper consultation and have called for its retrieval. Petitions to this effect remain before the Indian Supreme Court.

Dissanayake’s visit marked the first time a Sri Lankan Head of State had travelled to Katchatheevu, and it was widely seen as a strong and symbolic gesture at a time when Tamil Nadu politicians, including actor-turned-politician Vijay, have revived their calls for the island’s ‘return.’

Development plans

At the same time, the Government is conducting a feasibility study for a tourism development project in the Northern Province. The plan aims to link Katchatheevu with Neduntheevu, also known as Delft Island, and to encourage greater religious tourism as according to Fisheries, Aquatic and Ocean Resources Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekar.

Rodrigo nevertheless insisted that no development would proceed until environmental, social and religious impact assessments were completed.

Ministry of Urban Development, Construction, and Housing Secretary Ranjith Ariyaratne further noted that there had been much speculation but little concrete movement. “There has merely been conjecture on proposed development work, but no work has actually begun. It would fall under the purview of the Urban Development Authority (UDA), but I can confirm that no such project has commenced, and no such order has come from the office of the President,” he said. His clarification underscored that the project remained in the study phase and was not yet a matter of execution.

Concerns of the Catholic community

The proposal has nevertheless sparked debate, particularly among the Catholic community in northern Sri Lanka, about whether such projects might alter the sanctity of St. Anthony’s Church, which has been a sacred pilgrimage site for generations.

Deputy Minister of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Gamagedara Dissanayake emphasised that these concerns were being taken seriously. “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,” he 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.”

He 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.

Attempts to elicit a response from Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna, Right Reverend Dr. Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam, did not yield positive results.

Pilgrimage and security

The church is the focal point of the annual feast that brings thousands of pilgrims from both Sri Lanka and India. Rodrigo explained that Indian devotees attended under special provisions of the 1974 agreement. They do not require visas, but a list of pilgrims and vessels must be submitted in advance to Sri Lankan authorities. He noted that the practice resembled the way Sri Lankan Buddhists travelled to religious sites in India and that it was conducted within the framework of the law.

Sri Lanka Navy Spokesperson Commander Buddhika Sampath, elaborating on the entry process, said pilgrims must submit their personal details, along with boat numbers, before making the journey. These details are distributed to the District Secretary of Jaffna, the Navy, the Coast Guard, Immigration, and other agencies. On arrival, pilgrims are checked by Customs, Immigration, Police, and the Coast Guard. After the festival, officials ensure that all participants return to India.

“They cannot travel to the Sri Lankan mainland,” he emphasised. “The Navy and Coast Guard deploy assets to ensure no one penetrates into our territory. Some security measures cannot be revealed, but we have taken all necessary precautions.”

Sampath also confirmed that there were no permanent Government institutions on Katchatheevu. For the festival, temporary infrastructure is brought to the island, set up for the event, and then dismantled. “For security purposes, however, we have a continuous deployment on the island,” he said. “It is not isolated or abandoned, but we do not have permanent buildings there.”

For Sri Lankan fishermen in the north, the dispute over Katchatheevu is intertwined with the frequent challenge of Indian trawlers crossing into Sri Lankan waters. They accuse Indian boats of using bottom trawling, a destructive method banned in Sri Lanka because of its ecological damage. These incursions often lead to arrests and confiscations, fuelling anger among local communities who see their livelihoods threatened.

In Tamil Nadu, fishermen argue that their traditional fishing grounds were lost when India recognised Sri Lanka’s claim to the island. While New Delhi has proposed shifting them to deep-sea fishing, progress has been slow. The result is a persistent cycle of arrests, protests, and political demands that continue to resonate on both sides of the Palk Strait. 

Attempts to contact Chandrasekar on the matter failed, with the Minister providing excuses each time he answered the phone.

The economic dimension

Amid this complex mix of politics, diplomacy, religion, and livelihoods, analysts have urged Colombo to adopt a broader view. 

Centre for Policy Alternatives Executive Director Dr. Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu believes that the Katchatheevu issue is primarily a State-level political rallying point in Tamil Nadu rather than a matter of contention between the Governments of India and Sri Lanka. “There is a clear understanding that the island belongs to Sri Lanka,” he said. “I do not believe it will become a major point of contention.”

He acknowledged that presidential statements and initiatives could have a ripple effect but said they were unlikely to provoke a serious rift with India. More importantly, he argued, Sri Lanka should see Katchatheevu in terms of economic opportunity.

“India is projected to be one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. Tamil Nadu, in particular, is on track to have a trillion-dollar economy by 2030. Sri Lanka’s northern and eastern regions would be foolish to turn their backs on this economic orbit,” he explained. “Any local issues must be considered against the backdrop of this emerging economic power and prosperity.”

Balancing sovereignty, faith, and development

Dr. Saravanamuttu also addressed the concerns of the Catholic community about the sanctity of St. Anthony’s Church. He suggested that compromise was possible, with both religious devotion and development being respected. 

“I believe an agreement can be reached where the sanctity of the region is observed while still looking after people’s livelihoods and development. At the end of the day, religion must serve the betterment of the people, and development is not sacrilegious,” he said.

The Katchatheevu debate thus encompasses multiple layers. For the Sri Lankan Government, the challenge is to reaffirm sovereignty, respect religious sensitivities, and manage cross-strait tensions, all while exploring opportunities for tourism and economic growth. For India, the issue remains a balancing act between the sentiments of Tamil Nadu’s electorate and the strategic realities of its partnership with Colombo. And for the people of the north, the stakes are immediate, involving livelihoods, faith, and the hope of development. 

Whether Katchatheevu becomes a point of conflict or cooperation in the future will depend on how effectively these interests are balanced.