ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA 1 Status of Radiation Safety Infrastructure in Sri Lanka

ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA 11

Status of Radiation Safety Status of Radiation Safety Infrastructure in Sri LankaInfrastructure in Sri Lanka

Sri LankaSri LankaDemocratic Socialist Republic of Sri LankaDemocratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

Land Area: Land Area: 65,610 sq km 65,610 sq km

Population : Population : 20 million20 million

Official Language : Official Language : Sinhala Sinhala

Main Religion : Main Religion : BuddhismBuddhism

Growth Rate: Growth Rate: 1.0%1.0%

Infant Mortality rate : Infant Mortality rate : 2%2%

Life Expectancy : Life Expectancy : 74.8 Years 74.8 Years

Literacy Rate : Literacy Rate : 94%94%

Monetary Unit : Monetary Unit : Sri Lanka Rupee (SL Rs.)Sri Lanka Rupee (SL Rs.)

English is commonly usedEnglish is commonly used

Capital City : Capital City : ColomboColombo


Status of Radiation Safety Infrastructure in Status of Radiation Safety Infrastructure in Sri LankaSri LankaLegislation, Legislation, Regulations, Regulatory AuthorityRegulations, Regulatory Authority

Radiation Protection Training Radiation Protection Training

Authorization and Licensing Authorization and Licensing

Inspection and EnforcementInspection and Enforcement

Information and Quality ManagementInformation and Quality Management

Safety and Security of SourcesSafety and Security of Sources

Radiological Protection in Occupational ExposureRadiological Protection in Occupational Exposure

Radiological Protection in Medical ExposureRadiological Protection in Medical Exposure

Public and Environmental Radiological ProtectionPublic and Environmental Radiological Protection



Atomic Energy Authority Act No. 19 of 1969Atomic Energy Authority Act No. 19 of 1969It 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 AEAAEA has dual functions to do and does not clearly identify regulatory body and its assigned functions as per GSR part-1

Effective independence of AEAAEA 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

LegislationLegislationBasic Law (Challenges)Basic Law (Challenges)


Gazetted in July 2000 and superseded regulations made in 1975.

Mainly compatible with BSS-115.

Regulations (Challenges)Regulations (Challenges)


Ionizing Radiation Protection Regulations of 1999Ionizing Radiation Protection Regulations of 1999

However, certain inconsistencies: Some wording are not rigorous

Some regulations are not based on provisions of the Act

Absence of security requirements

Guidance documents have been developed Guidance documents have been developed

Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) Sri LankaAtomic Energy Authority (AEA) Sri Lanka

Established in 1969. Functions under the Ministry of Technology & Research

Mainly responsible for regulatory activities


Regulatory AuthorityRegulatory Authority

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 activitiesAtomic Energy Board: for promotional activities


LegislationLegislationNew Atomic Energy BillNew Atomic Energy Bill

Radiation Protection TrainingRadiation 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


Radiation FacilitiesRadiation Facilities X-ray facilitiesX-ray facilities

CT Scanning FacilitiesCT Scanning Facilities

Radiotherapy FacilitiesRadiotherapy Facilities

Other ActivitiesOther Activities Import & Export of Radiation SourcesImport & Export of Radiation Sources

Transport of Radiation SourcesTransport of Radiation Sources

Waste ManagementWaste Management

Construction FacilitiesConstruction Facilities

Authorization and Licensing:Authorization and Licensing:


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

Authorization and Licensing (Challenges)Authorization and Licensing (Challenges)


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

InspectionInspection


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

Enforcement (Challenges)Enforcement (Challenges)


Information and Quality Systems (Challenges)Information and Quality Systems (Challenges)


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.


Safety and Security of SourcesSafety and Security of Sources

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)


Safety and Security of Sources (Challenges)Safety and Security of Sources (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 onpersonnel dosimetry, training courses, maintenance and repair of monitoring equipment

Internal dosimetry: No service in place

Workplace monitoring: taking steps to establish


Radiological Protection in Occupational Radiological Protection in Occupational Exposure (Challenges)Exposure (Challenges)

lack of qualified experts in diagnostic radiology, Interventional procedures using X-rays, nuclear medicine and RadiotherapyNo 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


Radiological Protection in Medical Exposure Radiological Protection in Medical Exposure (Challenges, according to RASIMS)(Challenges, according to RASIMS)

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

Public and Environmental Radiological Protection Public and Environmental Radiological Protection (Challenges)(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

Public and Environmental Radiological Protection Public and Environmental Radiological Protection (Challenges)(Challenges)



Thank you !Thank you !

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ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY SRI LANKA 1 Status of Radiation Safety Infrastructure in Sri Lanka