The Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Diocese of Jaffna has clarified that Katchatheevu has always been part of Sri Lanka, rejecting recent claims in India suggesting otherwise.
In a statement issued on August 6, titled “The Heating Debate on Katchatheevu,” the Commission emphasized that the island was never ceded by India.
The Commission recalled that in 1974, under the Congress government led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, it was explicitly affirmed that Katchatheevu was under Sri Lankan administration and that India would not assert sovereignty over it.
The statement noted that the issue often resurfaces in Indian politics, particularly in Tamil Nadu, and intensifies during election periods or when Indian fishermen are arrested for crossing Sri Lankan maritime boundaries, damaging nets, or fishing illegally.
Politicians in Tamil Nadu frequently suggest that “taking back Katchatheevu” would resolve these challenges, the Commission observed.
Highlighting the historical and ecclesial significance of the island, home to St. Anthony’s Church and longstanding parish traditions, the Commission cited archival records, parish registers of Delft, and oral traditions that confirm Katchatheevu was never under Indian administration.
It concluded that discussions about “ceding” or “retrieving” the island are historically unfounded and hold no validity.
