Will Sri Lanka return Katchatheevu island to India? the minister replied

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Sri Lanka has reacted in the case of Katchatheevu Island. Fisheries Minister Douglas Devanand has given a statement in this matter and said that the statements coming from India regarding the return of Kachativu Island from Sri Lanka have no basis.

Senior Sri Lankan Tamil leader Devananda’s comments came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement targeting the Congress and its ally Dravida Munnetra Kasagam (DMK). PM Modi accused both sides of neglecting national interests by handing over Kachativu island to Sri Lanka in 1974.

Devananda said, ‘I think India is working to acquire these places in its own interest to ensure that Sri Lankan fishermen do not have access to those places and that Sri Lanka does not lay claim to this resource rich area. Could.’ They should further note that the statements regarding taking back Kachativu island from Sri Lanka have no basis.

Know what Sri Lanka said?

Sri Lankan Minister Douglas Devananda has said that according to the 197 agreement, fishermen from both sides can catch fish in the waters of these two countries. But it was later reviewed and the agreement was revised in 1976.

Devanand said, ‘It is being claimed that there is a place called West Bank which is located near Kanyakumari. It is a vast area with extensive marine resources. Which is 80 times larger than Kachativu, India had secured it in the 1976 review agreement. As Fisheries Minister, Devanand also faced opposition from local fishermen in recent months.

How many Indian fishermen have been arrested?

Local fishermen held massive protests to stop Indian fishermen from illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters. He said that bottom fishing by Indians is against the interests of Sri Lankan fishermen. At least 178 Indian fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy so far this year and 23 of their trawlers have also been seized.