SL gained Katchatheevu Island at the cost of Wadge Bank to India

6 April 2024 10:44 am - 20 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Kelum Bandara and Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya

Colombo, April 06 (Daily Mirror) - In the midst of heated political debate over the Katchatheevu Island, Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda set the stage for another debate when he said that India secured Wadge Bank which is located below Kanyakumari and a much bigger area with extensive sea resources while ceding the Katchatheevu to Sri Lanka in terms of the 1976 agreement.

In India, the then Indira Gandhi government decided that when the IMBL (International Maritime Boundary Line) was drawn up, Katchatheevu would go to Sri Lanka and India in turn would get the Wedge Bank — a fish-rich area close to the coast of Kanyakumari.

Referring to the matter, Minister Devananda told Daily Mirror that this is an area with rich marine resources including petroleum resources and India had secured in when drawing the maritime boundary line.

“I thought I should disclose this hitherto unknown fact to people here,” he said.

Wadge Bank, which lies to the south of Kanyakumari, refers to an area, including the continental shelf that provides deep-sea fishing grounds while also being rich in other resources.

Estimates about the area covered by the Bank vary. According to a 1957 study published by Sri Lanka's Fisheries Research Station, the Wadge Bank covers 3,000 square miles. The study also highlights that at least till the late 50s, the Wadge Bank had been home to one of the "world's few successful tropical trawl fisheries" for a number of years.

The India-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) was delineated by a 1974 agreement demarcating it in the Palk Strait and another 1976 agreement demarcating it in the Gulf of Mannar and Bay of Bengal.

The minister said according to the 1974 agreement, fishermen from both Sri Lanka and India could fish in the territorial waters of both countries. But it was later reviewed and amended in 1976.

It was the 1976 Agreement that explicitly barred fishermen from both countries from fishing in Sri Lankan waters.

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Comments - 20

Ravi Saturday, 06 April 2024 11:19 AM

Mark my words Kachaitivu would be taken over by India within the next five years. India is spending millions in buying both Russian and Western weapons despite over 300 million Indians are living in poverty. When India send it’s Navy and take over Katchaitivu, Sri Lanka would be powerless to do anything about it.

Ama Saturday, 06 April 2024 02:12 PM

Compared to the size of India, Katchatheevu is a very tiny island. Their greediness clealy demonstrates their attitude of troubling neighbours for their betterment. Never trust India.

wsw Sunday, 07 April 2024 06:22 PM

That's fine, they might as well take it. It will at least set a valid precedent to abrogate all past agreements with India, legally. The mighty Chinese will be watching with glee to pounce on any estranged relationships between the two countries.

Steve Saturday, 06 April 2024 12:27 PM

BJP is playing dirty politics to get votes in Tamil Nadu. Why bring this up after 50 years. Come elections in SL we will see much more of such dirty tactics.

Ranjith Hewage Sunday, 07 April 2024 02:50 AM

Steve, The reason is, for too long Sri Lanka has played China against India. Sri Lanka, received all the brotherly help from India while selling Sri Lanka to China. Unfortunately, it is time Sri Lankan politicians understand that: You can fool some people all the time, All the people sometime, But NOT all the people all the time. Thi now has come in the form of Narendra Modi.

Grace Saturday, 06 April 2024 01:16 PM

Katchaithivu issue mushrooms only when there is a general election in India.

Ahmed Saturday, 06 April 2024 01:24 PM

Thank you for revealing the fact about wadge bank

What do you call this? Saturday, 06 April 2024 01:34 PM

Is it due to the wisdom of Sirimavo that Lanka ceded the resource rich Wadge Bank to India while content with empty Katchatheevu? What more blunders have that old lady done, blinding our eyes jointly ruling the country with Socialist NMPerera? What more secrets the history hides?

DOT Saturday, 06 April 2024 01:35 PM

Great to know that our Nothern politicians are defending Sri Lanka.Its a good sign

Gabriella Saturday, 06 April 2024 02:44 PM

Yes, unusual for a politician to be knowledgeable. In my extensive travels around Sri Lanka, I realised, it is not “WE” the people who have problems with each other. It is the scum we elect that cause the problems.

Fact Saturday, 06 April 2024 07:03 PM

Wonder where this Minister's loyality was in that period

South is safe only if the North is safe is a fact Sunday, 07 April 2024 09:41 AM

Northerners politicians and civilian are compelled to defend their land. Otherwise they will not have the public road to walk and even dry the paddy harvest, which I saw during my visit to the north!

lalithanatrajan Sunday, 07 April 2024 12:09 PM

Election time is best when scoundrels whose last refuge is politics show their color

Raja Sunday, 07 April 2024 01:46 PM

In the past and even now it is the southerners think and treat the northerners as foreigners and not recognising northerners as Sri lankans

Rip Winkle Saturday, 06 April 2024 06:56 PM

Politicians and the crap they emit from the orifice below their noses! Give it a break, will ya?!!

ROSH Saturday, 06 April 2024 06:59 PM

Please don’t fell into these traps set by opportunistic politicians who doesn’t care about normal folks. Example unelected master debating president. He loves master debating in mile high club

Historian Saturday, 06 April 2024 07:10 PM

@ -DOT- The Northern politician who is defending SriLanka is from the pockets of the Southerns. Northern and Eastern politicians are more concerned about greater autonomy to North and East when the Tamils are asking for two states in one country.

wsw Sunday, 07 April 2024 06:25 PM

Wadge Bank, yes I vaguely remember my father mention this to me a long time ago. Looks like we have been duded by the Indians right from the onset.

wsw Sunday, 07 April 2024 06:30 PM

@Ranjith Hewage- brotherly help ? Perhaps, you should revisit recent history, read through India's involvement which contributed to the detriment of our country.

FredSnR Monday, 08 April 2024 11:05 AM

Ranjith(above) you can't outsmart India, they are too shrewd, they have the military power and economic clout to control the region ,and to expand and grow to satisfy the ambitions of a billion plus Indians, hungry for success, anxious to get out of a poverty trap.So Sri Lankans Northerners and Southerners unite unless you want to become a vassal state , burdened with debt and unable to look after itself, still fighting over trifles like election dates, what to have first, parliamentary or presidential, whom to field and so on, this not IPL it affects 22 million Sri Lankans with no other place but SL to call home.Sri Lankans are clever, educated, blessed with a fertile land, just need dedicated leadership to build a team, TEAM SRI LANKA

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SL gained Katchatheevu Island at the cost of Wadge Bank to India

Comments - 20

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