Katchatheevu

Katchatheevu கச்சத்தீவு කච්චතීවු
Island
Katchatheevu
Coordinates: 9°23′0″N 79°31′0″E / 9.38333°N 79.51667°E / 9.38333; 79.51667Coordinates: 9°23′0″N 79°31′0″E / 9.38333°N 79.51667°E / 9.38333; 79.51667
Country	India (until 1974), claimed as its part from 2011 Sri Lanka (1974-present)
Province	Northern
District	Jaffna
DS Division	Delft

Katchatheevu, also Kachchatheevu or Kachchativu (Tamil: கச்சத்தீவு, Sinhalese: කච්චතීවු) is an uninhabited island administered by Sri Lanka and was a disputed territory claimed by India until 1976.

The island originated from a volcanic eruption that occurred in the 14th century. In 1974 India recognized Sri Lankan ownership of the island on a conditional agreement.

Geography

Kachchatheevu location in Jaffna Peninsula

285-acre (1.15 km²) island is situated on the Sri Lankan side of the maritime boundary.

History

Ownership of the island was controversial up until 1974 as during British Rule the island was administered by both countries. India recognized Sri Lankan equal ownership. 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, this arrangement led to many difficulties with the Sri Lankan Navy that is deployed to prevent smuggling of weapons by the rebel group LTTE. The island has a Catholic shrine that attracts devotees from both countries.^[1]

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.^[2]

In June 2011 the new Tamil Nadu government led by Jayalalithaa filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the declaration of the 1974 and 1976 agreements between India and Sri Lanka on ceding of Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka as unconstitutional.^[3] 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. Katchatheevu was ceded to Sri Lanka in violation of the court under the 1974 and 1976 agreements without the approval of two Houses of Parliament.

However, the Indian government has stated that "No territory belonging to India was ceded nor sovereignty relinquished since the area was in dispute and had never been demarcated" and that the dispute on the status of the island was settled in 1974 by an agreement, and both countries took into account historical evidence and legal aspects.^[4]

St.Anthony's Catholic Shrine

St. Antony's shrine is one of a kind which shares the borders of both countries India and Sri Lanka, and declared holy place by both Governments.

There stands the only religious structure, St. Antony's Catholic Shrine which holds 100+ year old traditions, and was built by an Indian Catholic (Tamilian) called Srinivasa Padaiyachi. No one is required to possess an Indian passport or Sri Lankan visa for visiting Kachchatheevu.

The church festival runs for three days. The priests from both India and Sri Lanka conduct the mass and car procession. As many as 35 country boats and 106 mechanized boats ferry the pilgrims, mostly from Rameswaram; there is not a drop of drinking water on the island, and the only structure is a church named after St. Antony, patron-saint of seafarers, to whom the feast is dedicated. It was put up by a prosperous fisherman in the early 20th century.

See also

• Extreme points of Sri Lanka
• India–Sri Lanka maritime boundary agreements

References