Did Foreign Affairs Minister Vijitha Herath Say Katchatheevu Is A Burden For Sri Lanka?

A purported Asian Mirror graphic, carrying the photograph of foreign affairs minister Vijitha Herath, states in Sinhala that Herath called Katchatheevu a huge burden for Sri Lanka. “Maintaining it is also a major headache for the Navy,” the graphic further quotes Herath.

The posts imply that the minister made the statement in response to ongoing discussions surrounding the island. This image has gone viral on TikTok and Facebook. The posts can be seen here, and here.

Evidence

We did a keyword search to check whether Vijitha Herath had made such a statement through programmes, political speeches, and Cabinet meetings, but we could not find any instance of the minister making the above statement regarding Katchatheevu Island.

However, we found a video of Herath at a media briefing held on 27.08.2025 to announce Cabinet decisions, where he responded to a journalist’s question regarding statements made by Thalapathy Vijay about Katchatheevu Island during the main rally of his party TVK held in Madurai on August 21, 2025.

In that briefing, the minister stated that no such decision had been taken either by the government or through diplomatic channels, and reiterated that Katchatheevu Island has always belonged to Sri Lanka.

To verify the claim further, we checked the official social media platforms and website of Asian Mirror.On May 6, 2026, Asian Mirror published a Facebook post, clarifying that the viral news card was not created or published by its newsroom or official social media accounts.

We also reviewed statements issued through Herath’s official Facebook page. In a post published on May 6, 2026, the minister stated that the circulated content and information were completely false and had not been released through any official source.

In the same statement, the minister further clarified:“As I stated during the Cabinet decision announcement media briefing held on 27.08.2025, the island of Katchatheevu belonged to Sri Lanka in the past, belongs to Sri Lanka today, and will continue to belong to Sri Lanka in the future.”

Context

Katchatheevu Island is located in the Palk Bay, about one and a half nautical miles from the India–Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), on the Sri Lankan side of the boundary.

Under the 1974 Indo–Sri Lankan maritime agreement, Katchatheevu was recognised as belonging to Sri Lanka. Since then, the ownership of the island has remained a sensitive political issue, particularly in Tamil Nadu politics in India.

Following the recent Tamil Nadu state election victory of actor-turned-politician Vijay and his party “Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam” (TVK), his election campaign speeches regarding Katchatheevu began resurfacing and circulating online, leading to renewed discussions about the island.

Meanwhile, Jaffna District Independent MP Dr. Ramanathan Arjuna made controversial remarks in Parliament on May 5 regarding handing over Katchatheevu Island and Jaffna to Tamil Nadu, which also gained attention online.

In this context, the viral posts falsely attributing comments about Katchatheevu being a burden to Sri Lanka’s foreign affairs minister gained traction across social media platforms.

Verdict

The claim that foreign affairs minister Vijitha Herath described Katchatheevu as “a huge burden for Sri Lanka” is false. The viral Asian Mirror news card is fabricated, and the Asian Mirror and the minister have confirmed that the content is not authentic.

FAQs

Q1. What does the viral news card claim?
It claims that foreign affairs minister Vijitha Herath said Katchatheevu is a burden for Sri Lanka and difficult for the Navy to maintain.

Q2. Did Vijitha Herath make this statement?
No. The minister has denied making the statement, and no verified source supports it.

Q3. Was the news card published by Asian Mirror?
No. Asian Mirror has confirmed that the viral graphic was not published by its newsroom or official platforms.

Q4. What has the minister previously said about Katchatheevu?
He stated that Katchatheevu belonged to Sri Lanka in the past, belongs to Sri Lanka today, and will continue to belong to Sri Lanka in the future.

Our Sources
Cabinet decision announcement video uploaded on the official Ada Derana Sinhala YouTube channel on August 27, 2025.
Facebook post published on the official Asian Mirror Facebook page on May 6, 2026.
Facebook post published on the official Vijitha Herath Facebook page on May 6, 2026.