Sri Lankan Minister of Fisheries, Douglas Devananda, has rebuffed recent statements from India regarding the contested ownership of Katchatheevu island.

Devananda stated that Indian claims hold "no ground," attributing the rhetoric to election-time politics in India. He emphasized that India's actions aim to secure the area against Sri Lankan access. Devananda highlighted the 1974 agreement, which allowed fishing in both countries' territorial waters but was later amended in 1976 to restrict such activities. The minister also referenced tensions between local Sri Lankan fishermen and their Indian counterparts, citing arrests made by the Sri Lanka Navy. Meanwhile, India's Ministry of External Affairs declined to comment further, redirecting inquiries to previous statements made by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.