Katchatheevu: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description| |
{{Short description|Uninhabited island administered by Sri Lanka}} |
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{{Infobox islands |
{{Infobox islands |
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| name = Katchatheevu |
| name = Katchatheevu |
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| native_name = |
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| native_name = <br>{{lang|ta|கச்சத்தீவு}}<br>{{lang|si|කච්චතීවු}} |
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| country = |
| country = [[Sri Lanka]] |
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| country_admin_divisions_title = [[Provinces of Sri Lanka|Province]] |
| country_admin_divisions_title = [[Provinces of Sri Lanka|Province]] |
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| country_admin_divisions = [[Northern Province, Sri Lanka|Northern]] |
| country_admin_divisions = [[Northern Province, Sri Lanka|Northern]] |
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| country_admin_divisions_2 = [[Delft Divisional Secretary's Division|Delft]] |
| country_admin_divisions_2 = [[Delft Divisional Secretary's Division|Delft]] |
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[[File:Islands of Jaffna Peninsula.svg|thumbnail|300px|right|Kachchatheevu location in Jaffna Peninsula, extreme bottom left or southwest of the map.]] |
[[File:Islands of Jaffna Peninsula.svg|thumbnail|300px|right|Kachchatheevu location in Jaffna Peninsula, extreme bottom left or southwest of the map.]] |
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'''Katchatheevu''' ({{lang-ta|கச்சத்தீவு|translit=Kaccattīvu}}, {{lang-si|කච්චතීවු|translit=kaccatīvu}}) 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]] (also known as Delft), Sri Lanka, and 33 kilometers from [[Rameswaram]], India. The island was under the jurisdiction of the [[Madras Presidency]] during the [[British Raj]]. Initially a [[disputed territory]] between India and Sri Lanka over fishing rights, the dispute was resolved in 1974 when then [[Prime Minister of India]], [[Indira Gandhi]], relinquished India's claim to the island in exchange for fishing rights for Indian fishermen. |
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'''Katchatheevu''' is a 163-acre uninhabited island in [[Sri Lanka]]. The island was controlled by the [[British Ceylon]] (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> |
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The island is located between [[Neduntheevu]], [[Sri Lanka]] and [[Rameswaram]], [[India]] and has been traditionally used by both [[Sri Lankan Tamils|Sri Lankan Tamil]] and [[Tamil Nadu]] 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, [[Indira Gandhi]] accepted Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan area under the ''"Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement"'' aimed at resolving the maritime boundaries in the [[Palk Strait]].<ref name=ktech1/> Another agreement signed in 1976 restricted both the countries’ fishermen from fishing in the other’s [[Exclusive economic zone of India|exclusive economic zones]].<ref name=ktech1/> |
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Earlier, it was owned by the [[Ramnad estate#Ramnad|Ramnad Kingdom]] of Ramanathapuram [[Rameshwaram]] which later came under the [[Madras Presidency]] during [[British raj|British rule of Indian subcontinent]]. 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>[https://www.livemint.com/Politics/acjYPxP6XuKnlTLqJ2P3QI/Katchatheevu-The-big-issue-over-a-small-island.html Katchatheevu: The big issue over a small island], [[Livemint]], 15 Jun 2016.</ref> |
Earlier, it was owned by the [[Ramnad estate#Ramnad|Ramnad Kingdom]] of Ramanathapuram [[Rameshwaram]] which later came under the [[Madras Presidency]] during [[British raj|British rule of Indian subcontinent]]. 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>[https://www.livemint.com/Politics/acjYPxP6XuKnlTLqJ2P3QI/Katchatheevu-The-big-issue-over-a-small-island.html Katchatheevu: The big issue over a small island], [[Livemint]], 15 Jun 2016.</ref> |
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Revision as of 18:13, 31 March 2024
  Katchatheevu | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 9°23′0″N 79°31′0″E / 9.38333°N 79.51667°E |
| Administration | |
| Province | Northern |
| District | Jaffna |
| DS Division | Delft |
| Additional information | |
| Time zone | |
Katchatheevu is a 163-acre uninhabited island in Sri Lanka. The island was controlled by the British Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) since 1921.[1] 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.[2][3]
The island is located between Neduntheevu, Sri Lanka and Rameswaram, India and has been traditionally used by both Sri Lankan Tamil and Tamil Nadu fishermen.[4][5] In 1974, then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi accepted Katchatheevu as Sri Lankan area under the "Indo-Sri Lankan Maritime agreement" aimed at resolving the maritime boundaries in the Palk Strait.[5] Another agreement signed in 1976 restricted both the countries’ fishermen from fishing in the other’s exclusive economic zones.[5]
Earlier, it was owned by the Ramnad Kingdom of Ramanathapuram Rameshwaram which later came under the Madras Presidency during British rule of Indian subcontinent. By 1920, Sri Lanka reinstated its claims to Katchatheevu and the island went within the Sri Lankan territory in 1921.[1][5]
History
According to the Ramesvaram stone seat inscription left by Nissanka Malla, the king of Sri Lanka (1187-1196), he had inspected the island of Kacci (Kaccativu) during his expeditions within the realm.[6][7] 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 district of India. Later, with British rule on the Indian subcontinent, the island became part of the Madras Presidency.[4]
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.[1]
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.[2] 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.[8]
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.[9]
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.[10] 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.[2]
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
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ a b c 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.
- ^ 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
- ^ a b Malone, David M.; Mohan, C. Raja; Raghavan, Srinath (2015-07-23). The Oxford Handbook of Indian Foreign Policy. OUP Oxford. ISBN 9780191061196.
- ^ a b c d Katchatheevu: The big issue over a small island, Livemint, 15 Jun 2016.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "The Hindu : 'Cannot return Kachchativu'". Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2007-10-24.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ 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.