The Hindu : Front Page : No plan to build watchtower at Katchatheevu: Sri Lanka

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No plan to build watchtower at Katchatheevu: Sri Lanka

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Harassment of Tamil Nadu fishermen denied
Coast Guard finds no watch-like tower at Katchatheevu

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Friday categorically denied reports that the government had “intentions of constructing a watchtower or have a military presence” on Katchatheevu Island.

In a statement here, the Foreign Ministry referred to media reports alleging that the Sri Lankan government was intending to construct a watchtower and a military base on the Katchatheevu Island and that the Sri Lankan Navy was harassing Tamil Nadu fishermen.

“The Sri Lankan Navy, after conducting investigations, has categorically denied the allegations that Tamil Nadu fishermen were being harassed by its personnel. It is likely that these malicious allegations have been orchestrated by parties with vested interests in order to strain the longstanding and warm relations between Sri Lanka and India,” it said.

In Ramanathapuram, the Indian Navy and Coast Guard denied that a lighthouse tower was coming up in Katchatheevu.

The issue was raised in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday with Opposition members alleging that Sri Lanka had constructed a lighthouse-like structure on the island that was ceded in 1974.

A Coast Guard vessel embarked on a fact-finding mission to the Palk Strait on Friday. After anchoring inthe Indian waters of the IMBL, the defence personnel inspected whether any tower was built at Katchatheevu. They could see the entire island since it was just around 2 nautical miles from the IMBL. They also used binoculars and other equipment to inspect the island. But they could not see any tower-like structure.

A top-level Coast Guard official told The Hindu that there was no building except Anthoniyar church, which was constructed by an Indian several years ago.

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