Sri Lankan government takes measures to set up nuclear accident early warning system

The Sri Lankan government has taken measures to set up an early warning system in the country to detect a nuclear disaster in the event of a nuclear accident. Following India's decision to expand the Kudankulam nuclear plant on the South Indian coast,
the Sri Lankan government has expressed concerns due to the close proximity of the nuclear plant to Sri Lanka's Northern and North Western coastal areas. The Power and Energy Ministry has initiated the move and the nuclear accident early warning system is to be established by the Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) with the collaboration of Sri Lanka Navy and Disaster Management Centre (DMC). The relevant tripartite agreement on the proposed warning system was signed by the AEA, DMC and Sri Lanka Navy in the presence of Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka yesterday evening. With the help of the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA), the AEA will set up eight early warning detectors along the coastal areas and one in inland. The IAEA has provided equipment worth of 72,000 Euros to establish the system following a request made by the AEA. The detectors will be set up in coastal cities of Colombo in Western Province, Kalpitiya in North Western Province, Thalaimannar and Delft islet in the Northern Province, Trincomalee in the Eastern Province and in the inland city of Kandy in Central Province.