Sabry’s statement comes as the first official reaction from Sri Lanka following PM Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s statements on the formerly disputed island.
Speaking at an iftar dinner, the foreign minister stated – “There is no controversy. They are having an internal political debate about who is responsible. Other than that, no one is talking about claiming Katchatheevu”.
Other officials have stated that Modi and Jaishankar’s comments are about “who was responsible for giving the island to Sri Lanka and not about whose territory it is now part of”. Officials have also added that due to this “there is nothing for Sri Lanka to comment about”.
What Is The Katchatheevu Issue?
Ahead of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has accused the Congress governments under Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi for giving up the island.
Katchatheevu is an unhabituated island, which was controlled by British Ceylon since 1921. However, due to the British Rule in India, it was considered part of the Madras presidency. The island remained a disputed territory between India and Sri Lanka till 1974, when New Delhi recognised Colombo’s sovereignty over the island.
In 1974, under Indira Gandhi, India and Sri Lanka signed an agreement in which Katchatheevu went to Colombo, but “Indian fishermen were given access to the island” and pilgrims were allowed to visit for the annual St Anthony’s festival.
In 1976, India and Sri Lanka signed another agreement to define the maritime boundaries between the two countries. This agreement took place after the then Tamil Nadu government protested against the giving up of Katchatheevu. However, in January 1976, the DMK Government under K Annamalai was dismissed.