News
Modi government moves to ‘solve’ Katchatheevu issue
The Narendra Modi government is mulling restoring the traditional rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen in Katchatheevu, an uninhabited island of 285 acres, sandwiched between India and Sri Lanka in the Palk Bay, with the BJP hoping the move could lift its political fortunes in the southern state.The government will push Sri Lanka to implement “in letter and spirit” the 1974 agreement reached between Indira Gandhi and Sirimavo Bandaranaike, then prime ministers of India and Sri Lanka, on the island.This will have to be done by withdrawing the “Executive Instructions” issued in 1976 without questioning Sri Lanka’s “sovereignty” over Katchatheevu, sources aware of the internal discussions in the BJP told the Indian newspaper, Deccan Herald.
Sources added that the discussions were “ongoing” at “various levels” including reaching out to Tamil political parties in Sri Lanka. The recent visit of TN BJP chief K Annamalai to Sri Lanka is also part of the outreach. Many feel the instructions issued in 1976 “superseded the provisions of the legally valid” pact between India and Sri Lanka, thus making Katchatheevu a subject of dispute in the Palk Bay.While the 1974 agreement gave away Katchatheevu, which was part of the territory ruled by the Rajah of Ramanathapuram, to Sri Lanka, the 1976 pact drew the maritime boundary between India and Sri Lanka in the Gulf of Mannar and Bay of Bengal.
“We cannot disturb the agreement signed in 1974. We are now finding ways and means to implement the agreement in letter and spirit. All we plan is to ask Sri Lanka to invoke Article 6 of the Katchatheevu pact. If Sri Lanka agrees, the issue can be sorted through Exchange of Letters between foreign secretaries of both countries,” a source in the know said.Another source said the time is “ripe” to push forward on the issue. “With fast-changing geopolitical situation in the region, we believe Sri Lanka will slowly come around and accept the rights of our fishermen,” the source said.
“The opinion within the party is that time is ripe to push this cause, with Sri Lanka beginning to realise that India can always be relied upon, given PM Ranil (Wickremesinghe) is pro-India.”
Articles 5 and 6 of the 1974 agreement categorically assert the right to access of the Indian fishermen and pilgrims to Katchatheevu and state that the “vessels of Sri Lanka and India will enjoy in each other’s waters such rights as they have traditionally enjoyed therein”.
However, fishermen from India were prohibited from fishing in the Sri Lankan territorial waters around Katchatheevu in 1976 following the signing of an agreement on the maritime boundary. The battle for fish in the Palk Bay has often ended in Indian fishermen being attacked by Sri Lankan Navy for “transgressing” into their waters.The BJP, which is yet to make major inroads in Tamil Nadu, feels a “solution” to the long-standing issue will give the party the much-needed momentum ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and provide a chance to get into the Tamil psyche. Political analysts feel that it might also allow the BJP to needle the DMK and the Congress by pointing out that it has restored the rights “surrendered by them,” to Tamil fishermen
Senior journalist and Lanka expert R Bhagwan Singh said: “If BJP succeeds in its efforts, it will certainly help the saffron party in the coming elections.”
But a source said the move will “take time”. “We don’t want to rush and create an impression we are forcing Sri Lanka. We will take it slow. We will take every stakeholder into confidence and reach an amicable settlement with Sri Lanka. All we want to do is restore traditional rights of our fishermen,” the source said.CM Stalin also raised the issue at an event on Thursday, telling Modi that this is the “right time” to retrieve Katchatheevu.
President Anura Kumara Disanayake paid a visit to the Vatican Embassy on Thursday (24) afternoon to extend his condolences on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.
Upon his arrival, the President was warmly received by Most Reverend Archbishop Brian N. Udaigwe, the Apostolic Nuncio of the Vatican to Sri Lanka.
Following a brief discussion with Archbishop Udaigwe, President Disanayake signed the book of condolence, conveying, on behalf of the Government and the people of Sri Lanka, heartfelt sympathies to the global Christian community on the demise of His Holiness Pope Francis.
The Purawesi Balaya organisation yesterday (24) lodged a complaint with the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption, requesting an investigation into the alleged overpayment of Rs. 200 million in detention charges for 40 container trucks used in the removal of waste from the distressed ship X-Press Pearl.
According to the complaint, the waste from the ship was transported from a temporary yard in Wattala to the storage yard in Pamunugama using 40 containers, for which an excessive amount — approximately Rs. 200 million — had been paid as detention fees. This information has reportedly been included in the 2021 annual report of the Marine Environment Protection Authority
(MEPA), as cited in a report submitted to Parliament by the National Audit Office.After lodging the complaint Purawesi Balaya Chairman Jamuni Kamantha Thushara said that they hoped the CIABOC would conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.
By Sujeewa Thathsara
The main suspect in the shooting and killing of political activist Dan Priyasad had been arrested, the police said yesterday. Investigators suspect that notorious Mohommad Najim Mohommad Imran alias Kanjipani Imran, who is taking refuge in Dubai, ordered Priyasad’s killing.
The suspect is a resident of Wellampitiya.
The convenor of the “Nawa Sinhale National Movement” and political activist, Dan Priyasad, was fatally shot at the ‘Laksanda Sevana’ Housing Complex in Wellampitiya on Tuesday (22) night. He was initially admitted to the Colombo National
Hospital with gunshot wounds, but passed away shortly after due to the severity of his injuries. Priyasad was reportedly shot four times—twice in the chest and twice in the shoulder. Additionally, another individual who sustained minor injuries during the incident is also currently receiving treatment in hospital.
It is reported that two individuals, who had arrived on a motorcycle, fired multiple shots using a pistol before fleeing the scene.
As of yesterday evening police had taken into custody seven persons including two women for questioning related to Priyasad’s murder.
According to police, the contract was arranged by a three-wheeler owner named Dulan, also a resident of Wellampitiya. Dulan is currently in police custody and has provided investigators with key information. It was revealed that Dulan is related to the father and son duo who are the main suspects in a previous case involving the murder of Dan Priyasad’s younger brother. Dulan reportedly informed them that Dan continued to harass him.
The conflict reportedly escalated on April 20, when Dan Priyasad allegedly assaulted Dulan during an altercation in Wellampitiya, also damaging his three-wheeler with a sharp weapon. Dulan later discussed the incident with the father and son, who in turn contacted underworld criminal Grandpass Danushka in Dubai. Danushka, a close associate of Kanjipani Imran, informed him of the issue as well.
Imran, who reportedly had his own grudge against Dan Priyasad, allegedly agreed to support the murder plan and instructed that two contract killers be engaged to carry out the hit.
Dulan did not complain to the police about damage to his three-wheeler but instead had another individual file a complaint on his behalf — believed to be an attempt to distance himself from the murder plot.
The assassination was initially planned for April 21 in front of the Wellampitiya Police Station, when Dan Priyasad was expected to appear in relation to that complaint. However, he did not show up, and the attempt failed. Later that night, the killers struck while Dan was at a family gathering.
So far, police have questioned nearly 20 individuals in connection with the case. A special police team has been deployed to locate the missing father and son, but multiple searches of suspected hideouts have yielded no results.
By Norman Palihawadane and Hemantha Randunu
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