Thu Apr 03 16:04:57 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Urges Modi to Reclaim Katchatheevu Island
**Chennai, April 3, 2025** – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has formally requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate steps to reclaim Katchatheevu island from Sri Lanka. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. Stalin highlighted the unanimous resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on April 2nd, demanding the retrieval of the island and the protection of Indian fishermen’s traditional fishing rights in the Palk Bay.
The Chief Minister emphasized the long-standing opposition to the 1974 Indo-Sri Lankan agreement that ceded Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka, citing resolutions passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 1974, 1991, 2013, and 2014. He stressed the detrimental impact of the agreement on the livelihoods of Tamil Nadu fishermen, who face frequent arrests, boat seizures, and imprisonment by the Sri Lankan Navy. Mr. Stalin cited figures indicating 530 arrests in 2024 and 147 in the first three months of 2025.
Mr. Stalin reiterated his concerns raised in previous meetings and letters since 2021, urging immediate intervention to address the issue. He called for a review of the Indo-Sri Lankan Agreement as the only permanent solution to protect the fishermen and their traditional rights. The resolution also calls for the release of imprisoned fishermen and their boats as a goodwill gesture during the upcoming official visit to Sri Lanka. The Chief Minister described the current situation as pushing Tamil Nadu fishermen “to the brink of extreme poverty.”
First Piper 