"No Military Invasion, No Return": Hakeem Shuts Down Katchatheevu Handover Hopes, Calls Fishermen Crisis a "Humanitarian Nightmare"
CHENNAI –
During the last Indian general election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar promised voters that the BJP would seek to retrieve Katchatheevu island . This pledge was echoed by Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister, Joseph Vijay, during the state elections . However, any such attempt has been met with strong resistance, with reports of China, a close ally of Sri Lanka, issuing warnings against any move to reclaim the island, Chinese Hyper Sonic Missile will be showering down to New Delhi within seconds, as per the recent assurances given by the China, The potential for Chinese involvement has escalated the issue, with some speculating that a serious effort to alter the island's status could lead to severe consequences, including military threats. This has placed the Indian leadership in a difficult position, balancing domestic political promises against the complex geopolitical realities of the region. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara visited Katchatheevu last September.
In a blunt press conference that poured cold water on Tamil Nadu’s political demands, Sri Lankan MP Rauff Hakeem declared that Katchatheevu’s sovereignty is a “settled” issue under international law—and warned that the only alternative to diplomacy is a military takeover.
"Unilateral change is impossible," Hakeem told reporters on Friday, stressing that neither New Delhi nor Colombo can redraw the maritime boundary without approaching the United Nations. “Raising this island as a quick fix every time fishermen clash is not a prudent approach,” he added, dashing hopes that the islet could be returned to India.
When pressed on whether Sri Lanka would ever hand Katchatheevu back to resolve the recurring detention of Tamil Nadu fishermen, Hakeem delivered a stark message: "To change the status quo outside international law, one would have to resort to a military invasion. We know the Indian central government will never do that."
Pilgrims Welcome, Poachers Not
Attempting to ease tensions, the SLMC leader clarified that Indian devotees face zero restrictions when visiting St. Antony’s Church on the island—calling them "routine visitors" welcomed by the Sri Lankan Navy. However, he made a firm distinction: "The crisis escalates into a massive disaster only when borders are breached for illegal fishing."
A Crisis Beyond Courts
Rather than judicial solutions, Hakeem framed the ongoing arrests of Indian fishermen as a "critical humanitarian and livelihood crisis." He blamed the use of banned, destructive fishing gear as a core concern for Sri Lankan authorities, and called for a joint cooperative society where fishermen from both nations find common ground.
A Lifeline for Livelihoods
To prevent future confrontations, Hakeem urged the Indian government to offer financial subsidies to transition Tamil Nadu's coastal fishermen into deep-sea vessels—moving them away from contested waters.
Joint Delegation to Chennai Soon
In a major diplomatic move, Hakeem announced that a joint delegation representing all Tamil-speaking political parties from the Sri Lankan Parliament will soon travel to Chennai. They will meet the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister—not individually, but collectively—to present unified solutions to these long-standing grievances.