Katchatheevu: Sri Lanka President welcomes India’s assurance
Why in the news
On 11 October 2026, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake welcomed India’s statement in its Supreme Court that it will not reopen the Katchatheevu agreements, calling it a positive sign for bilateral ties.
Key facts
- India’s position: On 6 October 2026, Attorney General R. Venkataramani told a bench of Justices Sanjay Kumar and Sanjeev Sachdeva that the Centre does not intend to reopen the 1974 and 1976 maritime agreements.
- The Centre said fishermen’s concerns will be handled through diplomatic channels; the court asked that Tamil Nadu fishermen be sensitised against crossing into Sri Lankan waters.
- Security pledge: Dissanayake said Sri Lanka will not allow its territory to be used for activities harmful to India, repeating an assurance given to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in September.
- Pending case: A.K. Selvaraj v. Union of India, filed in 2008; next hearing in February 2027.
About Katchatheevu
Katchatheevu is a small uninhabited island in the Palk Strait. The 1974 India-Sri Lanka maritime agreement recognised it as Sri Lankan territory, and the 1976 agreement restricted the fishing rights of Indian fishermen. Petitioners argue the transfer needed a constitutional amendment, citing the 1960 Berubari Union case. In 2008, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa also moved the Supreme Court against the agreements. The island hosts an annual Catholic festival attended by fishermen from both countries.
Exam angle
- Katchatheevu lies in the Palk Strait between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.
- Remember the years: 1974 (island) and 1976 (maritime boundary, fishing rights).
- Berubari case (1960): ceding Indian territory requires a constitutional amendment under Article 368.