Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath today strongly responded to recent remarks made by Indian actor-turned-politician Vijay regarding the Katchatheevu Island.

“Katchatheevu Island belongs to Sri Lanka. It is part of Sri Lanka, and that will never change,” Minister Herath said during the weekly Cabinet press briefing.

He noted that elections are due in South India, and candidates often make such statements on election stages to gain votes. “This is not the first time. Even in the past, similar statements have been made during elections,” he explained.

The Minister stressed that such remarks will not alter the island’s status. “I saw that Vijay made this statement at an election rally, but not much attention should be paid to it,” he added.

Herath further emphasized that neither the central government of India nor Indian diplomats have made any such comments, and therefore, there is no question of change in the islet’s ownership.

“Katchatheevu will continue to belong to Sri Lanka in the future,” he reiterated.

Vijay, leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party, had recently called for retrieving Katchatheevu Island from Sri Lanka to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s fishermen. Addressing the party’s state conference in Madurai, he reportedly urged: “To ensure the safety of our fishermen, retrieve Katchatheevu and give it to us.”

Katchatheevu Island was ceded to Sri Lanka in 1974 by the Indian government under then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as part of a bilateral agreement.