Indo- SL dialogue in the offing on Nuclear plant

31 August 2012 07:07 am

Amid concerns about safety issues involving the nuclear plant in Kundakulam of South India, the government of Sri Lanka has raised its concerns with India and sought an immediate dialogue between the two sides to discuss the matter, officials said yesterday.

 External Affairs Ministry Secretary Karunaratne Amunugama told Daily Mirror that the government took up the matter with India through its mission in New Delhi.  Mr. Amunugama said a dialogue between the representatives of the atomic energy authorities of the two countries would take place ‘very soon’ to discuss   matters.

 “We are looking forward to a dialogue between the two sides in this regard. This is an issue to be handled by experts. The atomic energy authorities of the two countries will deal with it,” he said.

Earlier, Sri Lankan environmentalists said the nuclear plant which was only 240 km off the west coast of Sri Lanka posed a threat to Sri Lanka in the event of a radiation leak or an accident.

 Environmentalist Jagath Gunawardane said there were three international conventions to deal separately with safety, accidents and early notification.  Therefore, he said, Sri Lanka had the right to seek the assistance of the International Atomic Energy Authority in this regard.

 According to these conventions, he said India was bound to ensure the safety of its people and neighouring countries in the case of an emergency.