NO NUCLEAR FALLOUT FROM INDIA-AEA

* Sri Lanka outside danger range

* All early warning systems operating

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

No radiation leakage has been reported from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) chairman Dr Ranjith Wijayawardane said. Questioned about recent newspaper reports of a radiation leakage at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Chennai, the chairman said the Kudamkulam Power Plant was constructed with advanced Russian technology under the supervision of the Indian government, Indian Atomic Energy Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency. “They are responsible for any failure in the power plant.

The power plant has not even been commissioned yet. There is no possibility of this happening. We don’t have to panic as Sri Lanka will not be badly affected even if there is a major disaster at the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant since it is 220 kilometres away from Sri Lanka,” the chairman said.

He said if there is a leakage at the power plant, the International Atomic Energy Authority will inform Sri Lanka as it is their responsibility. “We have not got any information although this has been highlighted by some groups,” Dr Wijayawardane said.

“I will guarantee that even if there is a major disaster at the Kudankulam Power Plant, there will be no major impact to Sri Lanka. If there is such a disaster, only people living within a five kilometre range should be evacuated,” the chairman said.

He said the AEA and the Disaster Management Centre jointly trained AEA scientists, university academics and some groups of people on how to mitigate radiation exposure. The AEA has already installed early warning systems provided by the International Atomic Energy Authority, Dr Wijayawardane said.

“We have installed five early warning systems at Navy camps along the coastal line. Recently we checked whether they are functioning properly and we found that they work properly.” he said.