Nuke early warning system at seven spots

Sri Lanka had taken every measure possible to prevent a nuclear mishap in Sri Lanka

The necessity to establish a regulator to monitor peaceful exploitation of nuclear energy and a separate commission to apply nuclear energy for economic and scientific progress was highlighted by Power and Energy Minister Patali Champika Ranawaka on Tuesday. Minister Ranawaka while assuring

that all possible measures had been taken to protect Sri Lanka in an event of leakage at Kudankulam and Kalpakkam located at a distance of 225 and 300 kilometers to Sri Lanka’s North coast respectively added that Sri Lanka had taken all and every measure possible to prevent a nuclear mishap in Sri Lanka in an event of leakage at the two power plants.

“We had discussions with In- dian authorities on this issue. They acknowledged our concerns and pledged to cooperate with us and to subject the nuclear plant for constant monitoring to detect even a smallest of change in the reactors and to take immediate preventive measures to minimize effects on Sri Lanka,” Minister Ranawaka said.

Sri Lanka has set up an early warning system at seven locations that would detect and alert a sudden increase of concentration of radiation in air in the event of nuclear mishap for authorities to take preventive and remedial measures in advance. The early warning system has set up with the assistance of the Sri Lanka Navy mainly focusing on northern Sri Lanka taking into consideration the close proximity to two atomic power plants, he said.

Minister Ranawaka pointed out that there are vast opportunities to exploit nuclear energy for many peaceful means for the development of agriculture, medicine.

Nuclear energy is a definite option for future power generation in Sri Lanka but no clear cut decision has been taken up to now on the modalities and policies of the exploitation of nuclear energy, Minister Ranawaka emphasized.