Katchatheevu Katchatheevu is a controversial uninhabited 285- | Deepak UPSC Notes

Katchatheevu

Katchatheevu is a controversial uninhabited 285-acre (1.15 km) island situated on the Sri Lankan side of the maritime boundary. It has a Catholic shrine and has been declared as a sacred area by the government of Sri Lanka. The shrine attracts devotees from both the countries.

This island was with India till 1974 when it was ceded to Sri Lanka by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Since then, Indian people from Tamil Nadu have demanded to get it back from Sri Lanka. On the other hand, Sri Lanka had claimed that it had belonged them only right since British Era.