As Rameshwaram and Mannar are about 15 miles apart and Indian shoreline and islands near Jaffna are about 48 miles apart, the EEZ and the territorial boundaries of India and Sri Lanka overlap. In such situations, the UNCLoS says that both countries should come to an agreement on the line of demarcation, which is usually the median between the two countries. Through 1974 Agreement, India and Sri Lanka have agreed on that line International Maritime Border Line (IMBL), including the ownership of Katchatheevu. However, Indian fishermen often stray into Sri Lankan waters. These incidents have increased now due to depleting shoals near Indian coast.
