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Cabinet approves signing of two conventions to facilitate nuclear power here

Published

2 years ago

2024/03/23

By Rathindra Kuruwita

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved the signing of the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage and Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, Saminda Jayasekara, Chairman at the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council said recently at an event organized by the Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka.

The Convention on Supplementary Compensation (CSC) aims at establishing a minimum national compensation amount and at further increasing the amount of compensation through public funds to be made available by the Contracting Parties should the national amount be insufficient to compensate for the damage caused by a nuclear incident.

The Vienna Convention on Civil Liability aims at harmonizing the national law of the Contracting Parties by establishing some minimum standards to provide financial protection against damage resulting from certain peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

However, the Cabinet has not approved the signing of the Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy and the Joint Protocol Relating to the Application of the Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention, Jayasekara said.

Jayasekara mentioned that western European countries could only be enticed to build nuclear power plants in Sri Lanka only if Sri Lanka signs Paris Convention.

“If we are not a part of those conventions western European countries won’t come to Sri Lanka,” he said.

Meanwhile, Malinda Ranaweera, scientific officer at the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board said that nuclear energy is becoming popular in Asia. China, Japan, and South Korea are leading the way in Asia, he said. India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan too have nuclear power plants.

“In Asia there is a big nuclear renaissance. China has 59 reactors with several others under construction, South Korea has 28, and Japan has 33. India has 19 reactors and is constructing eight more,” he said.

Sri Lanka is in a decision making phase with the Cabinet recently approving nuclear as an energy option, he said.

SMRs can also be coupled with solar and wind power, he added.

He added that Sri Lanka needs about 400 megawatts of electricity per day when the Colombo Port City Project is complete. The power should be cheap in order to attract foreign investments, Ranaweera said. If the metropolitan light railway system is implemented it will need an additional 200 megawatts, he added.

Ranaweera said another 200 megawatts will be needed if the government converts the conventional train system into an electrified train system.

“All these need cheap power,” he said.

Sri Lanka has been considering nuclear power since 1974, Ranaweera said. In 2010 Cabinet approval was given to conduct a pre-feasibility study to consider a nuclear power programme in the country, he said.

“In February 2024 the Cabinet of Ministers approved “to take the strategic and knowledgeable decision to forward the electricity generation using nuclear power in Sri Lanka as a safe, clean, green, reliable and affordable energy source,” he said.

It takes about 15 years to complete a nuclear power plant project from scratch and Sri Lanka should get to work on it immediately, Dr. Thushara Rathnayake, senior lecturer, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Moratuwa said.

Nuclear is a clean energy source with a high output from a single plant, she said.

“This is a highly safe medium, and it is economical. The generation cost is highly dependent on capital cost (about 60 percent), the fuel cost is about 20 percent from the generation cost. Although the capital cost is high, lifetime cost is low and the introduction of carbon taxes would make nuclear energy more economical.”

Rathnayake said that public acceptance would be one of the largest challenges in establishing a nuclear power plant in Sri Lanka. However, compared to other power sources, nuclear power is safer. The country can also suffer a huge economic loss, if we build a conventional large reactor and the plant is not operated throughout the life cycle.

“If you look at the capital cost of nuclear power, generated for a conventional large reactor, it’s about 7,000 US dollars per kilowatt hour. Cost of coal is about 4,000 dollars. But if you consider the health, social and environmental costs, the capital cost is almost equal to nuclear energy. However, nuclear power has a capacity factor of about 94 percent. Other intermittent sources like wind and solar have a low-capacity factor. So, if we calculate the levelized cost of energy, nuclear is very much cost competitive to other power sources,” she said.

Rathnayake added that if the government decides to go for a large nuclear reactor, it will have to incur a large capital investment. So Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), i.e., less than 300 MWs, should interest Sri Lanka more.

“Currently four SMRs, in advanced stages of construction, are being built in Argentina, China and Russia. The capital costs are also low. I said the capital cost of nuclear power is about 7,000 US dollars per kilowatt hour, but for an SMR the cost is about 2,900 dollars. It also only takes 1.5 years to construct, compared to five years taken to build a conventional large reactor,” she said.

Nuclear power also uses the least amount of land to generate a megawatt hour of electricity, she said. This is about 1.3 square metres per megawatt hour.

“SMRs suit smaller grids like ours. We can also think about offshore in-built SMRs, which are cheaper, less risky and we won’t have to worry about handling Spent Nuclear Fuel,” she said.

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National SME Strategy Framework 2026 is critical because it brings policy consistency and stability to the sector – PM

Published

14 hours ago

2026/05/15

Priyan

The Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya participated in the 2nd day of the dialog on “National SME Strategy Framework 2026” organized by the Ministry of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development held on Thursday [14th of May].

The official launch of the “National SME Strategy Framework 2026” to empower Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), was held on Wednesday (13) under the patronage of the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunnetti, and Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe.

The Framework has been developed by the Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Ministry, with input from the SME Advisory Committee and key system stakeholders in line with the national manifesto of “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life.”

This framework creates the opportunity for the entrepreneurs to easily register their businesses, access modern technology, and obtain specialized financial facilities along with the advisory services that directly support the growth of entrepreneurs, departing from the traditional method free of charge.

The second day marks the dialog on the “National SME Strategy Framework 2026” focusing on the discussion into implementation and strategy to action featuring series of panel discussions.

During the event National SME Strategy Framework 2026 was presented to the Prime Minister by the Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Chathuranga Abeysinghe.

The Prime Minister stated that the country is implementing its transformative agenda during a period of global instability and disruptive global context stressing the importance of adaptation, sustainability and building resilience, particularly within the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector in such context.

Underscoring the importance of the SME policy framework, the Prime Minister further stated that the government’s role is to ensure consistency, stability and collaboration within the sector.

The event was attended by the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunnetti, Deputy Minister Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Australian Deputy High commissioner to Sri Lanka, Ms. Ruth Baird and Secretary to the Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Mrs. J.M. Thilaka Jayasundara and develop and develop partners and representatives from business community.

[Prime Minister’s Media Division]

News

Opposition accuses govt. of weaponising tax laws

Published

15 hours ago

2026/05/15

Thilina Walpola

Sajith

… calls for modernising Inland Revenue Dept.

Opposition and SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa yesterday criticised the government’s proposed amendments to the Inland Revenue Act, claiming that a new provision in the draft legislation could unfairly lead to criminal action against ordinary citizens and small business owners over administrative tax-related matters.

In a statement, Premadasa said the public was “not angry about paying taxes” but was frustrated by what he described as unfair treatment under the proposed law.

He alleged that Section 185A of the proposed bill could make delays in filing tax returns or registration-related issues criminal offences, warning that struggling small-scale entrepreneurs could be treated in the same manner as individuals deliberately evading millions of rupees in taxes.

“That is wrong,” the Opposition Leader said.

Premadasa further accused the government of resorting to criminal action against people instead of reforming and modernising the Inland Revenue Department and simplifying tax compliance procedures.

He also questioned the government’s commitment to tackling corruption and financial crimes, asking why stronger measures had not been taken against money laundering, financial fraud and those accused of misappropriating public funds.

“Go after the corrupt. Punish real fraudsters. But do not weaponise the law against the common man,” he said.

Premadasa added that the Opposition would continue to resist legislation that undermined “fairness, proportionality, and the constitutional rights of the people.”

News

Floods, landslides affect 3,475 people

Published

15 hours ago

2026/05/15

Thilina Walpola

Adverse weather conditions prevailing across the country have severely affected 3,475 persons belonging to 1,113 families in seven districts, according to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC).The DMC said 1,310 individuals from 489 families had been relocated to eight temporary safety shelters due to the deteriorating weather situation.

The DMC also confirmed one death from the Koralepatthu South area in the Batticaloa District.

As of 10 am yesterday (14), a total of 88 houses and one business establishment had sustained partial damage as a result of the adverse weather conditions.

Authorities have urged the public in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant and follow safety instructions issued by disaster management and local officials as heavy rains continue to affect several parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) yesterday extended landslide warnings for several districts across the country due to the prevailing adverse weather conditions.

According to the NBRO, Level 2 landslide warnings have been issued for Neluwa in the Galle District; Agalawatte, Baduraliya, Matugama, Horana and Walallawita in the Kalutara District; and Ratnapura and Pelmadulla in the Ratnapura District.

Level 1 landslide warnings remain in effect for several areas in the Badulla, Galle, Kalutara, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale, Monaragala, Nuwara Eliya and Ratnapura districts.

The warned areas include Bandarawela, Passara and Hali Ela in Badulla; Thawalama, Elpitiya and

Niyagama in Galle; Ingiriya and Bulathsinhala in Kalutara; and multiple Divisional Secretariat areas in the Kandy District, including Poojapitiya, Deltota, Udunuwara and Pathahewaheta.

Warnings have also been issued for Bulathkohupitiya, Mawanella, Kegalle, Aranayake, Yatiyanthota, Warakapola and Rambukkana in the Kegalle District; Ridigama in Kurunegala; Rattota, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in Matale; and Wellawaya, Badalkumbura and Bibile in Monaragala.

In the Nuwara Eliya District, the warning covers Norwood, Ambagamuwa Korale and Kotmale, while Eheliyagoda, Kalawana, Kuruwita, Godakawela, Kiriella and Ayagama in the Ratnapura District have also been placed under alert.

The NBRO said the warnings were extended in view of further rainfall forecast by the Department of Meteorology and urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain vigilant and follow instructions issued by authorities for their safety.

Meanwhile, the water levels in several major river basins that had risen due to recent heavy rainfall are now receding following a decline in rainfall over the past 24 hours, the Department of Irrigation said.

Director of Irrigation (Hydrology and Disaster Management) L.S. Sooriyabandara said water levels in the Nilwala River, Gin Ganga, Kalu Ganga and Attanagalu Oya basins were showing a downward trend as rainfall eased.

He noted that water levels were declining in most areas, with the exception of the Millakanda area in the Kalu Ganga basin.

However, Sooriyabandara warned that the current improvement could be temporary, as the Department of Meteorology has forecast further rain in the coming days.

According to the Department, 18 of the country’s 73 major reservoirs are currently spilling over, while another 18 medium-sized reservoirs are also discharging water.

He stressed that the release of water does not indicate a major flood situation at present, but urged the public to remain vigilant and follow future advisories issued by authorities.

By Norman Paliahwadane and Chaminda Silva