Sri Lanka is committed to enhancing its national programme to strengthen the radiation protection of workers, according to review by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Occupational Radiation Protection Appraisal Service (ORPAS). The review team found that dose monitoring services had improved since a previous mission in 2019 but highlighted the need for stronger regulatory oversight.
The team comprised six experts from Australia, Austria, Ireland, the Philippines, Slovenia and the UK, as well as an IAEA coordinator. They conducted interviews with national counterparts and reviewed facilities and activities at the 10 sites that participated in the 2019 mission, plus the national cancer hospital, Lanka Apeksha Hospital in Maharagama.
“Sri Lanka is committing to an improved and fit-for-purpose legislative and regulatory infrastructure for occupational radiation protection,” said Hildegarde Vandenhove, Director of the IAEA Division of Radiation, Transport & Waste Safety, adding that the country has made “significant progress” in areas such as exposure control, monitoring, assessment and recording.
The team noted that Sri Lanka’s regulatory framework to protect workers from radiation is undergoing major change, with draft regulations on radiation protection and safety of radiation sources, rules and procedures currently in development.
“There is strong cooperation among institutions, enhanced capacities and new opportunities for continued development to enhance worker protection against harmful effects of ionising radiation,” said team leader Kristine Marie Romallosa Dean, Head of the Radiation Protection Services Section at the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute.
The follow-up mission was jointly hosted by the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council and the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board. The team assessed progress in implementing recommendations and suggestions from the 2019 mission, highlighting good practices and providing recommendations for further aligning occupational radiation protection with relevant IAEA safety standards.
“This mission established a valuable platform for Sri Lanka to align its practices with international standards in occupational exposure protection,” said KKPIK Kadadunna, Director of Inspection & Enforcement at the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council and one of the national coordinators.
“The insights you have shared this week will guide us in the next phase of our national journey to ensure the highest level of protection for all workers who use radiation in their professional activities,” added Thushara Rathnayake, Chairperson of the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board.
The ORPAS follow-up mission report included an assessment of progress in implementing improvements based on the recommendations and suggestions of the 2019 mission. These included enhancing processes for individual monitoring, including initiatives to expand capabilities for dose monitoring, and the continued development of human resources, calibration services and improved management of occupational exposure records. The report also highlighted the urgent need for clearer legislation and stronger regulatory oversight to ensure greater consistency in the effective management of occupational radiation protection.
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