Sat Mar 22 19:19:40 UTC 2025: ## Tensions Flare at Katchatheevu Fishing Festival Amidst Decades-Long Dispute

**RAMESWARAM/TALAIMANNAR, March 23, 2025** – The annual St. Anthony’s Church festival at Katchatheevu islet, a site jointly celebrated by Indian and Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen, saw heightened tensions this year over dwindling fish stocks and disputed fishing rights. The festival, which concluded recently, highlighted the decades-long conflict stemming from India’s 1974 cession of the islet to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan fishermen, particularly the younger generation, voiced concerns over depleting fish populations, blaming Indian trawlers for overfishing in Sri Lankan waters. They argued that the use of bottom trawlers by Indian fishermen, coupled with Sri Lanka’s restrictions on such methods to protect its marine resources, created an uneven playing field. One Sri Lankan fisherman, George from Talaimannar, engaged in a heated debate with Tamil Nadu fishermen leaders, emphasizing the need for government intervention to address the issue before it further strains relations between the two communities.

Indian fishermen, while acknowledging the concerns of their Sri Lankan counterparts, pointed to their own reliance on bottom trawlers, arguing that switching to alternative methods would severely impact their livelihoods. They appealed for the release of Indian fishermen and boats currently detained by the Sri Lankan Navy, emphasizing the need for a bilateral agreement to resolve the fishing boundary dispute.

The issue is not new; previous attempts by Indian officials, including former Chief Ministers and External Affairs Ministers, to resolve the dispute through dialogue have been unsuccessful. Sri Lankan Fisheries Minister Ramalingam Chandrasekhar stated that while a peaceful resolution is desired, the Sri Lankan government will adhere to the law regarding detained Indian fishermen.

Despite the ongoing tensions, the shared religious significance of Katchatheevu remains a powerful unifying force. Fishermen from both countries continue to attend the festival, emphasizing their long-standing kinship and shared faith in St. Anthony. However, the urgency for a permanent solution that addresses the economic concerns of both communities, possibly involving regulated access to fishing grounds, is increasingly apparent. While some suggest collaborative solutions between fishermen’s associations, others fear that political considerations will continue to overshadow the urgent need for a fair and sustainable resolution.

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