While insisting that the safety measures are in place at the South Indian Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant are of the highest order, the Indian High Commission said safety issues were being addressed in the spirit of the close and friendly ties existing between India and Sri Lanka.

It claimed that India the Indian government gave utmost attention to nuclear and radiation safety.

“The Indian government complies with the obligations prescribed in the Convention on Nuclear Safety (1994), Convention on Early Notification of a Nuclear Accident (1986) and the Convention on Assistance in the case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency, the High Commission said.

It said India had all the resources to manage radioactive waste and added that appropriate emergency response plans was a mandatory prerequisite for all nuclear power plants there and added that India and Sri Lankan would continue the ongoing dialogue on cooperation in the area of nuclear energy, isotope hydrology, radio-tracer studies and dam safety.

The High Commission said a Sri Lankan delegation would visit India to discuss nuclear and radiation safety,

Meanwhile Environmental lawyer Jagath Gunwardena who together with other environmentalists raised concerns over the impact on Sri Lanka said India had to underscore its sincere commitment towards ensuring radiation safety.

“If India is sincere in their commitment then India should invite Sri Lanka to enter into a bilateral agreement relating to nuclear and radiation safety. India should cooperate with Sri Lankan to enter into an agreement as the Article 1 section 3 of the Convention on Assistance in the case of a Nuclear Accident or Radiological Emergency provides for promoting, facilitating and supporting the cooperation between States as called for in the Convention,” he said. (Sarasi Paranamanna)