Gamma irradiation facility at Biyagama

The government will set up a centre to provide a multi purpose gamma irradiation facility shortly, at an initial cost of Rs. 102 million, in Biyagama, according to Samantha Kulatunga, Head, Radiation Processing Section, Atomic Energy Authority (AEE).

A concept by Professor Tissa Vitarana, Minister of Science and Technology, the AEE is to initiate the process of establishment in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Authority, a ministry statement said.

“All this time certain chemical items have been used for preservation of food which is not acceptable by foreign markets. We have taken steps to provide Sri Lankan businesses with irradiation facilities in this country itself and all enterprises, including small and medium entrepreneurs may use this facility. The Sri Lanka government looks forward to providing this facility for business enterprises as a service and not for monetary gain. This project is expected to be completed by the end of next year,” the minister was quoted as saying.

Gamma irradiation plants are widely used in many countries for the purpose of sterilization of medical products and food preservation. This facility ensures a better export market for the latex glove industry which at present exports gloves as un-sterile. If they are exported as sterile surgical gloves, a very high value addition of about 400% could be gained.

At present, a foreign company has installed a Gamma irradiation plant in the Biyagama Economic Processing Zone, using this facility for their own medical products for export markets, the release said

Medical equipment such as catheters, sterile dressing, syringes and saline are being currently imported for domestic use. But many local companies could have produced these products and even exported them if they had the facility of sterilization. If an irradiation plant is established here, it would have added value to locally manufactured products, save foreign exchange in regard to domestic requirements of such products and also create more employment opportunities, it said.