• Compliance with international conventions important: Prof. Rosa

The Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB) said that the process of amending the current Atomic Energy Act will be concluded by July this year (2024), clearing the existing barriers for the establishment of nuclear power plants, and the other related international laws will be ratified thereafter.

Last week, the Cabinet of Ministers reportedly approved the signing of two international conventions: the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage and the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage. The latter aims at establishing a minimum national compensation amount and further increasing the amount of compensation through public funds to be made available by the contracting parties should the national amount be insufficient to compensate for the damage caused by a nuclear incident.

Meanwhile, the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability aims at harmonising the national law of the contracting parties by establishing some minimum standards to provide financial protection against damage resulting from certain peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Chairperson of the SLAEB, Prof. S.R.D. Rosa, speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (24) that the current Atomic Energy Act is to be amended before ratifying the two aforementioned conventions and said the SLAEB is working to finish the process of amending the Act by July this year. He also noted that the said Act must be amended soon before establishing nuclear power plants, as the current Atomic Energy Act carries certain provisions that could create barriers to establishing such plants.

Prof. Rosa stated that such international collaborations are vital in enhancing the opportunities for establishing nuclear power plants, and they pave the way for more international investors to invest in the Sri Lankan nuclear energy sector. He also said that these conventions will provide the assurance that is sought by domestic and international investors; therefore, the conventions will be ratified soon once the Atomic Energy Act is amended.