India’s Sea Boundary Crossing Risks Katchatheevu Sovereignty Violation

Prior to the general elections, the BJP was trying to rekindle the decades-old Katchatheevu controversy. Former Sri Lankan ambassador to India Austin Fernando said that while the party may have used a “vote-puller,” it would be difficult for the Indian government to back down after the elections, which is a “problem.”

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In reference to remarks made by Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa regarding the Indian Peacekeeping Force in the late 1980s, he warned that the Indian government would be consider to have violated Sri Lankan sovereignty if it crossed the country’s marine international border line.

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Sri Lankan Ex-Envoy Challenges India’s Stance on Katchatheevu Amid Modi’s Accusations

Will India allow such maritime incursion near Goa if Pakistan offers it? Or what will be India’s response if Bangladesh tries something similar in the Bay of Bengal?,” said Fernando, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India from 2018 to 2020.

In 1974, Sri Lanka acquired possession of the little island of Katchatheevu from India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now accused the Indira Gandhi administration of “callously giving it away” to Sri Lanka, just weeks before the Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu.

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Sri Lankan Ex-Envoy Warns Against Election Rhetoric, Questions Feasibility of Granting Fishing Rights in Katchatheevu

It appears that this is all electioneering rhetoric. However, once they make a statement like this, the BJP will win the elections, making it harder for the government to reverse course. That is the issue. He said to The Indian Express, “They and we both should think about it.

“[External Affairs] Minister Jaishankar might say, ‘Well, let us have the fishing rights in the Katchatheevu area,’ to appease the Tamil Nadu voters. Another question is if it can be done successfully. Who would be in charge of any matters? “Don’t tell us it’s the Indian Coast Guard,” exclaimed Fernando, a former defence secretary of Sri Lanka.

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Fernando stated, “A fair portion of the votes cast by northern fishermen for the government will be reduced if the Sri Lankan government caves in.”

It will be viewe as a breach of Sri Lankan sovereignty if the Indian government crosses the country’s maritime international border. Remember that President Premadasa adopted that position during the IPKF’s visit? he remarked.