1. Status of Radiation Safety Infrastructure in Sri Lanka
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2. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
4/20/2017
Sri Lanka
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Land Area: 65,610 sq km
Population : 20 million
Official Language : Sinhala
Main Religion : Buddhism
Growth Rate: 1.0%
Infant Mortality rate : 2%
Life Expectancy : 74.8 Years
Literacy Rate : 94%
Monetary Unit : Sri Lanka Rupee (SL Rs.)
English is commonly used
Capital City : Colombo
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3. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
Status of Radiation Safety Infrastructure in Sri Lanka
Legislation, Regulations, Regulatory Authority
Radiation Protection Training
Authorization and Licensing
Inspection and Enforcement
Information and Quality Management
Safety and Security of Sources
Radiological Protection in Occupational Exposure
Radiological Protection in Medical Exposure
Public and Environmental Radiological Protection
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4. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
4/20/2017
Sri Lanka is a non Nuclear Power Country
Looking at the energy demand in the country Cabinet of Ministers has approved the establishment of a Steering Committee to carry out a
“Pre-Feasibility Study on the Use of Nuclear Power
for Electricity Generation”
Supported by a number of National Organizations.
A Technical Cooperation Project was approved by IAEA for cycle.
“SRL/2/008 - Supporting Energy Planning and Pre-Feasibility Study for Nuclear Power and Human Resources Development in Nuclear Power Engineering”.
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5. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
Legislation
Basic Law (Challenges)
Atomic Energy Authority Act No. 19 of 1969
It does not fully address the radiation safety principles set out in the BSS, GSR Part-1 and the Code of Conduct:
Lack of
Current requirements (> 40 years old)
Clear identification of functions of AEA
AEA has dual functions to do and does not clearly identify regulatory body and its assigned functions as per GSR part-1
Effective independence of AEA
AEA carries out both regulatory and promotional functions
and decisions are taken by the Board for both activities
Legal basis for Regulations in some cases
Adequate enforcement provisions
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6. Ionizing Radiation Protection Regulations of 1999
Regulations (Challenges)
Ionizing Radiation Protection Regulations of 1999
Gazetted in July and superseded regulations made in 1975.
Mainly compatible with BSS-115.
However, certain inconsistencies:
Some wording are not rigorous
Some regulations are not based on provisions of the Act
Absence of security requirements
BSS – Basic Safety Standards
Guidance documents have been developed
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7. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
Regulatory Authority
Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) Sri Lanka
Established in Functions under the
Ministry of Technology & Research
Mainly responsible for regulatory activities
Promtional, Services, Research etc. are also carried out under AEA
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8. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
Legislation
New Atomic Energy Bill
New Bill was drafted to separate promotional and regulatory functions of the AEA
New Bill was reviewed by the IAEA Legal Division and provided their comments
Final draft was prepared incorporating the IAEA comments
The draft bill will be sent to the Cabinet for the approval soon
After Cabinet approval of the New Atomic Energy Act there will be two entities:
Atomic Energy Regulatory Council: for regulatory activities
Atomic Energy Board: for promotional activities
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9. Radiation Protection Training
Conduct 2 training courses annually
Conduct about 2 awareness programs annually at the request of users
Trained more than 100 personal annually
Provide about 3 on the job training annually for undergraduate students
Conduct Radiation Protection lectures and Practicles for
MD Radiology,
MD Radiotherapy and
MSc. In Medical Physics degrees
B.Sc. In Radiography/Radiotherapy degrees
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10. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
Authorization and Licensing:
4/20/2017
Radiation Facilities
X-ray facilities
CT Scanning Facilities
Radiotherapy Facilities
Other Activities
Import & Export of Radiation Sources
Transport of Radiation Sources
Waste Management
Construction Facilities
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11. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
Authorization and Licensing (Challenges)
4/20/2017
Registration and licensing requirements are established in the Regulations.
Procedures for authorization and review of applications are established (practice-specific application forms, assessment checklists...)
Frequency of renewal is according to BSS
Technical assessments usually performed by AEA on behalf of users, and no independent review.
No provisions given in the Act for effective implementation of action against non-compliance & violations ( immediate cease of the unauthorized operation of facilities, Legal actions is a long process)
Lack of commitments from higher level of administration especially in Government institutions
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12. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
Inspection
4/20/2017
The Act and Regulations make provisions for inspection
Inspection programme is established (Checklist, survey equipment, submission of report, follows up, corrective actions… )
Frequency of inspection is according to the radiation risks associated (Frequency according to BSS)
AEA also undertakes inspections in response to abnormal events, and unannounced inspections
Lack of monitoring instrument required for Inspections
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13. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
Enforcement (Challenges)
4/20/2017
Act and Regulations provide provisions for enforcement
However, it is unclear who should take the appropriate action
Enforcement policy not developed and no formal arrangements with relevant Government agencies
In situations deemed to threat to health and safety, AEA may revoke, suspend or modify an authorization.
However, it seems that written directions from AEA to cease operation have been ignored (according to RaSSIA report)
No provision for inspectors to take on-the-spot enforcement actions
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14. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
Information and Quality Systems (Challenges)
4/20/2017
IAEA Regulatory Authority Information System (RAIS) Version 3.0 is used (including a National Registry on Radiation Sources)
1. Regulations, 2. all the forms and 3. information for the public are available through AEA web site (
There is no quality management system for regulatory activities in place yet
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15. Safety and Security of Sources
Authorization is required from the AEA for both radioactive sources and X-ray machines
Installed Portal Monitors at the port entries in the harbors to prevent Illicit Trafficking of radioactive sources
Arrangements exist with
Sri Lanka Customs
Sri Lankan Airlines
Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and
Import and Export Department
to control Import and Export of sources.
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16. Safety and Security of Sources (Challenges)
No Provisions in the current legislation to implement nuclear security. (Implementing as an initiatives by the regulatory authority)
Lack of funds for Nuclear Security and has low priority
Lack of knowledge of the importance of the nuclear security in Heads as well as the radiation workers of Rradiation Facilities
No Provisions given in the Act for the Physical Protection of Radioactive Sources
Only Radiation protection of General Public is addressed not the Physical Protection of the sources
Needs lots of funds for Physical Protection of sources (at present under US GTRI provides funds)
Poor participation by key persons for awareness programms (send lower level persons)
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17. Radiological Protection in Occupational Exposure (Challenges)
External dosimetry:
most of key elements of RSG-1.3 considered,
well established monitoring program.
AEA has a laboratory with adequate equipment and 98% of the workers are covered.
However, Beta and Neutron dosimetry are not available
AEA provides service on
personnel dosimetry,
training courses,
maintenance and repair of monitoring equipment
Internal dosimetry: No service in place
Workplace monitoring: taking steps to establish
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18. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
Radiological Protection in Medical Exposure (Challenges, according to RASIMS)
lack of qualified experts in
diagnostic radiology,
Interventional procedures using X-rays,
nuclear medicine and
Radiotherapy
No Local facilities to train them
activities on optimization of patient protection
in diagnostic radiology facilities,
some  activities on patients  dose measurements
in facilities performing image guided interventional procedures,
In nuclear medicine and radiotherapy facilities
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19. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
Public and Environmental Radiological Protection (Challenges)
There is a national system for monitoring levels of radioactivity in foodstuffs and selected commodities
The AEA conducts an environmental monitoring program throughout country (preparing a baseline data maps Ground and Marine)
Most of the waste is low-level waste. Disposed by “delay and decay”
A central radioactive waste storage facility has been established in the AEA
Policy & strategy for Radioactive Waste Management has not been established. However, an action plan is being implemented and interim procedures are applied
Lack of technical knowhow and adequate funds for conditioning of radioactive sources.
Difficulty in sending old high level sources to manufacturers as ships do not accept radioactive materials and funding is not available.
Establishment of a Waste Disposal Facility is planning - Technology & Funding is sought
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20. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
Public and Environmental Radiological Protection (Challenges)
No provisions given in the Act for Radiological Emergency Response
No properly established mechanism to identify a task force for implementation
Recruitment of permanent first respondents team from Police/Army
Recruitment of permanent Medical team
Activities of an emergency response plan is adopted under the Disaster Management Act.
Establishment of Bilateral Agreements with nearby NP countries for support
Lack of required Monitoring equipment
Lack of commitments from higher level of administration especially in Government institutions
Lack of safety culture
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21. ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA
Thank you !
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