News
Laws to secure radioactive sources introduced to prevent sabotage, crime
View(s):The Government has, for the first-time, promulgated laws to compel the public and private sector to secure any radioactive sources they hold–such as radiotherapy machines and irradiators–against theft, sabotage and other dangerous malpractices.
Regulations for the ‘Security of Radioactive Sources during Manufacture, Use or Storage’ came into effect last month. They were gazetted by the Power and Energy Minister.
The measures required to be taken include installing a physical security system connected to a central monitoring station (CMS) that allows response personnel–in this case, the Special Task Force (STF)–to view video images of the facility and to communicate with relevant people to “take early actions for interruption and prevention of unauthorised acts and removal of the sources.”
Parties licensed to use equipment containing radioactive material must also ensure that any theft of radioactive material was delayed by introducing a two-layer system of barriers such as walls and cages.
If a licencee becomes aware of or suspects there was a threat to a radioactive source, increased security measures must be put in place such as returning the source to its secure storage location, providing 24-hour security using additional video cameras or intrusion alarms and ensuring that law enforcement persons and the Atomic Energy Regulatory Council (AERC) were informed.
“These regulations were introduced for the security of radioactive sources because there have been attempts in other countries to steal and use them for other purposes, such as killing people or causing unrest in society,” said AERC Director General H.L. Anil Ranjith.
In recent years, Sri Lanka received assistance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and from the United States under its Global Material Security initiative to develop nuclear security infrastructure. The latter funded the installation of CCTV cameras, high-security doors and windows and motion sensors and also provided walkie-talkies and other security apparatus to cancer treatment hospitals, including the Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama.
US financing also supported the setting up of the CMS which allowed the STF to directly monitor threats. Among those who used radioactive material were companies with irradiators that sterilise medical equipment using radiation.
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