‘Lease Katchatheevu For 99 Years’: Vijay Tells PM Modi Amid Sri Lanka Visit; Here's What AIADMK Said

TVK chief Vijay urged PM Modi to negotiate a 99-year lease for Katchatheevu during his Sri Lanka visit. AIADMK raised concerns about arrests and confiscation of fishing assets.

File Photo of Actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief

Source : PTI

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Colombo on Friday for a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, actor-politician and Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay launched an attack on both the DMK and BJP-led governments over the long-standing fishermen issue and demanded decisive action on the Katchatheevu islet.

In a strongly worded statement, Vijay said, “Retrieving Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka is the only permanent solution to end the sufferings of Tamil Nadu fishermen.” Until such time, he urged the Centre to negotiate a 99-year lease of the islet and called upon Modi to finalise such an agreement during his ongoing visit. The TVK leader referred to Modi as Ondriya prathamar, meaning union prime minister, news agency PTI reported.

Blaming the DMK’s “hunger for power” for the 1974 ceding of Katchatheevu, Vijay further accused the party of inaction during its tenure in the Union government between 1999 and 2014. He dismissed the April 2 resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly — which called for the retrieval of Katchatheevu — as mere “drama” aimed at the 2026 state elections.

Modi’s Line Of Negotiation Should Be Aimed At Ending Sufferings Of Indian Fishermen: Vijay

Vijay also criticised the BJP-led central government for alleged bias, claiming it has protected fishermen from other states like Gujarat, but “gave up” on the plight of Tamil Nadu fishermen. “Modi’s line of negotiation should be aimed at ending the sufferings of Indian fishermen and should be guided by the principle that Katchatheevu is India’s rightful land,” he said. Vijay added that the Prime Minister’s visit should benefit both Sri Lankan Tamils and Indian fishermen.

AIADMK Seeks End to Boat Seizures By Sri Lanka

Meanwhile, AIADMK National Spokesperson Kovai Sathyan echoed concerns over the ongoing conflict involving fishermen. According to news agency ANI, Sathyan said, “The biggest concern is to find a solution which is agreeable to both Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu fishermen. The Sri Lankan government has no moral authority to confiscate the assets, particularly the fishing boats and nets, and auction them. PM Narendra Modi should put an end to this. If the fishermen are arrested, there are ways and means using which the two governments work on the release of the fishermen.”

#WATCH | Chennai: On PM Narendra Modi's visit to Sri Lanka, AIADMK National Spokesperson Kovai Sathyan says, "The biggest concern is to find a solution which is agreeable to both Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu fishermen. The Sri Lankan government has no moral authority to confiscate… pic.twitter.com/4tbEjNX08f

— ANI (@ANI) April 4, 2025

According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, the fishermen issue is expected to be on the agenda during Modi’s talks with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka. Modi is also scheduled to meet several political leaders and participate in various events, including the virtual ground-breaking of the Sampur solar energy project and a visit to the historic Mahabodhi temple in Anuradhapura.

During this landmark visit, both sides are likely to sign a key defence cooperation pact, along with a series of bilateral agreements, including on debt restructuring. The visit comes against the backdrop of China’s growing military footprint in the Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka’s economic recovery.

Modi, who arrived in Colombo after attending the BIMSTEC summit in Bangkok, last visited Sri Lanka in 2019. This marks his fourth trip to the island nation since 2015.