News
Foreign Ministry mum on Russian proposal to build cost effective advance nuclear reactor
By Rathindra Kuruwita
Sri Lanka has capable engineers to operate a nuclear power plant and these power plants are very safe, Prof. S.R.D. Rosa, Chairman, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board (SLAEB), said during a recent seminar organised by the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL) on ‘Potential of nuclear energy and its challenges in Sri Lanka.’
Prof. Rosa said that many erroneously believed that Sri Lanka did not have the human resources to operate and maintain a nuclear power plant.
“Of course, if we start a nuclear power plant we will have to get help from others initially. We need to work on public perception because many people assume nuclear power plants explode all the time. Nothing can be further from the truth.”
Rosa said nuclear power plants were regulated strictly. The SLAEB had started to amend the Lanka Atomic Energy Act as the current Act does not permit nuclear power plants in the country, he said.
“If we are going for nuclear power the Act has to change and the government has started the amendment process. This is chaired by Justice Sobitha Rajakaruna and I am also a member. We hope to finish the amendments by July,” he said.
Rosa added they have received a number of proposals to construct nuclear plants in Sri Lanka. Russia’s Rosatom, China’s China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), France’s Électricité de France (EDF), and Denmark’s Seaborg have submitted proposals. USA’s Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC) and Canada’s Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd (AECL) have expressed willingness.
“The proposal from Russia is a very comprehensive and a complete proposal. Russia is building two nuclear power plants in Bangladesh and one in Kudankulam, India, which is only about 207 kilometres from Kalpitiya. I think the Russians also want us to join their regional efforts. We had many discussions with Rosatom officials, including many Zoom sessions, and finalized the proposals. To finalize this, we need to sign intergovernmental agreements (IGA). We sent the proposal to the Foreign Ministry six or seven months back, but we still have not got an answer. It’s probably because of the Russia-Ukraine war and IMF, etc.”
Sri Lanka has also received a complete proposal from China and representatives from CNNC visited Sri Lanka about two months ago. The CNNC officials met SLAEB and even brought a prototype, Rosa said.
“EDF, too, has sent a proposal. We then have a unique proposal from Denmark. Seaborg Technologies is a private Danish startup. They are building barges or floating nuclear power plants. Seaborg Technologies is working on building power plants in Vietnam, and Indonesia and wants to build a third one for Sri Lanka.”
Rosa said USNC and AECL have sent proposals of willingness, but they are not complete or comprehensive proposals. Sri Lanka now has received six proposals. Seaborg has offered a power barge, Russia has offered Sri Lanka both onshore and offshore power plants, while the others have proposed conventional nuclear power plants, he mentioned.
“We have to also think about the prices. There is no point in building a nuclear power plant if the unit cost is about 60 rupees. The problem is that no one gives the exact price unless you sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) or a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Russians have offered us several options, depending on our requirements. If we go with the offshore plant, Russians will build and bring if here and we will have to sign a 10- or 20-year MoU. We have asked the price but they have not given us an exact price. However, we looked at the nuclear power plants Russians have built in Bangladesh, the unit price is between 27 to 30 Sri Lankan rupees.”
He added that China and Russia are the only countries that have successfully built operational Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity up to 300 MWs per unit.
Rosa said that they have prepared a Cabinet paper and that they have asked the government to take a “strategic and visionary” decision on generating electricity from nuclear power as a policy. They have also asked the government to invite expressions of interest from government institutions of suitable countries producing nuclear power plants compatible with the technical, economic, social, environmental and legal conditions of Sri Lanka and that can provide an integrated solution, including fuel cycle options and radioactive waste management options.
“We want a clear-cut policy approval from the government. We asked the government and they have approved. Since we have so many proposals, what the government said was to ask for Expressions of Interests (EOIs). Because if we only go with Russians there would be complications. Some may not like it. The Cabinet has also approved the decision to call EoIs. We had already prepared the EoI and since we have got the Cabinet approval, we can go for it.”
Rosa added Sri Lanka needs nuclear power to have a stable source of energy and that nuclear power plants would complement renewable energy.
“My personal opinion is that we should go for an offshore nuclear power plant first and then move to an onshore power plant. This is not the stance of the SLAEB. This is because selecting a land may be an issue because of public perceptions. Another thing to consider is that Thorium-based nuclear power plants are becoming very popular. India has a lot of thorium. Even Sri Lanka has a lot of thorium,” he said.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
