Following the Kachchatheevu island controversy in India, Sri Lankan media have come down heavily on New Delhi, condemning repeated attempts to stir up dispute. Even though the Sri Lankan government has yet to respond to comments by Indian PM Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on the dispute, the island country’s media houses have severely criticised the development.
What Did Sri Lankan Media Say?
All Sri Lankan media houses gave extensive coverage to the issue, with the Colombo-based Daily Mirror alleging that Modi “suddenly found fault with Indira Gandhi for signing an agreement with Sri Lanka relinquishing Indian claims to the island of Katchchatheevu” ahead of the upcoming general elections. The Sri Lankan outlet said that the issue was being raked up since the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had never come to power in Tamil Nadu.
#Katchatheevu was not India’s to “give away”
— Vipulananda 🇱🇰 (@vipulananda) April 2, 2024
"The constant provocative claims on Sri Lankan territory, especially from the highest echelons of power in India, would only force #SriLanka to seek security guarantees elsewhere."https://t.co/m7lOIWEc68
“Lanka desires to be left to its own devices away from India’s internal politics,” the paper said. It remarked that the last time India meddled in Lankan affairs, it resulted in a three-decade-long civil war. Referring to then-PM Rajiv Gandhi getting engrossed in the island country’s issues, it said that he fell victim to India’s unwanted involvement. In another article, the paper said, “Sri Lanka’s sovereignty over Kachchatheevu…was never in doubt.” It held that the Kachchatheevu issue had decided the demarcation of the maritime boundary between Sri Lanka and India in 1974.
In its sharp commentary on the dispute, the Daily Financial Times (FT) also criticised India for resurrecting the issue for “political expediency.” The paper said that rekindling the issue was “a dog whistle to South Indian nationalism” and “unnecessary provocation of a friendly neighbour that could have serious repercussions.”
Daily FT went on to remark that constant provocative claims on the island, especially from the highest echelons of power in India, would only force Sri Lanka to seek security guarantees elsewhere. The article added that it would be “tragic for all” if Sri Lanka needed to apply the foreign policy theory of Rajamandala to find a “friend” elsewhere to protect itself against a ‘near foe.’”
India’s Provocation, The Dispute
Ahead of the upcoming general elections in India, PM Modi has repeatedly raked up the issue of the disputed island that was ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974 as a part of the India-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Agreement. Recently, Modi accused the Congress party of “callously” ceding the island to Sri Lanka.
Adding to the comments, EAM Jaishankar said that it is crucial for the public to know what happened. He also raised the issue of Indian fishermen detained by the Sri Lankan navy continuously.
In #Rameswaram -- just 16 nautical miles from #Katchatheevu the island in focus now, fishermen are angry with the BJP and Prime Minister #NarendraModi for raking up the issue just before #LokSabhaElections2024 after having been in power for a decade. Read my ground report. pic.twitter.com/Ub2mTNi4Ko
— Sivapriyan E.T.B | சிவப்பிரியன் ஏ.தி.ப (@sivaetb) April 3, 2024
Meanwhile, fishermen’s associations have also come out to criticise the BJP-led union government for its inaction on the issue over the past decade. However, veteran Indian diplomats to the island country have warned India against raising the issue, citing “reputational risks.”
The Indian opposition has also questioned the ruling party’s intention behind raising the issue. Additionally, a Sri Lankan government spokesman said on Tuesday that the cabinet had not discussed the dispute as the Indian government never raised it.