Colombo: Sri Lanka's Atomic Energy Authority is to set up nuclear disaster early warning system in the naval bases around the island in the wake of increasing nuclear power stations in the region, a spokesman said on Friday.
According to Navy spokesman Kosala Warnakulasuriya, Sri Lanka's Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) jointly works with the Disaster Management Centre and the Navy on taking measures to establish a warning system to alert possible radiation leak, Xinhua reported.
Following the request of AEA, the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) decided to help Sri Lanka set up seven early warning detectors and provide equipment worth EUR 72,000, said Warnakulasuriya.
"With nuclear leakage at Fukushima in Japan last year the region felt the need for nuclear disaster warning systems. Unfortunately at that time we did not have the facility for radiation detection," said Power and Energy Minister Champika Ranawaka.
The detectors are to be set up in naval bases in capital 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.
IANS
First Published: Saturday, June 30, 2012, 08:53