Katchatheevu, a 285-acre uninhabited island, lies between India and Sri Lanka, sparking periodic disputes and tensions between the two nations.
Author
Arup Chatterjee, Professor, Jindal Global Law School, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, India
Summary
Approximately 20 miles north of the tip of the Dhanushkodi Peninsula, in India’s state of Tamil Nadu, and 20 miles to the southwest of Sri Lanka’s Delft Island, lies a contested island known as Katchatheevu (which translates to “barren island” in Tamil). It is a 285-acre uninhabited isle formed by a volcanic eruption in the 14th century. Shrouded in obscurity, Katchatheevu has a knack for resurfacing, such as in 2023, when Indian prime minister Narendra Modi indirectly referenced it in a speech in the Indian lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha. Map of Kachatheevu’s position between Sri Lanka and southeastern India. (Google Maps) A map outlines the southern tip of India, including Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and northern Sri Lanka. Key cities such as Coimbatore, Madurai, Thanjavur, Salem, Puducherry, Kochi, Kannur, and Thiruvananthapuram are marked in India, while Colombo, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee appear in Sri Lanka. The small island of Kachchatheevu is indicated in the Palk Strait between India and Sri Lanka. Major highways and some place names are labelled in both Tamil and English. The Laccadive Sea is labelled to the southwest of the map area. https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink” content-type=“black-white” specific-use=“print-only” xlink:href=“https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781003569534/84149be5-4574-4cd9-93f2-2b812739e87f/content/fig8_1_PB.tif”/>https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink” content-type=“colour” specific-use=“web-only” xlink:href=“https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9781003569534/84149be5-4574-4cd9-93f2-2b812739e87f/content/fig8_1_OC.tif”/>. © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Philip Hayward and May Joseph; individual chapters, the contributors.
Published in: Aquapelagos: Integrated Terrestrial and Marine Assemblages
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