First meeting of the Atomic Energy Law Review Committee
It had been a long discussion for enacting a new Act or amending the existing Sri lanka Atomic Energy Act No. 40 of 2014 to meet the establishment of necessary requirements for Nuclear Power Programme including the ratification of several legal instruments. As such on the guidance of the Chairman, Mr. Saminda Jayasekara of Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council (Regulatory Council), nominated and appointed a Committee which include experts in the Legal field and the Technical experts who are highly skilled professionals by the Dr. Wijedasa Rajapaksha, Minister of Justice, Prison Affairs and Constitutional Reforms.
As a result, the 1st meeting of the Atomic Energy Law Review Committee was held on 04th of October 2023 at 2.30 p.m. at Ministry of Power & Energy with the participation of members of Committee. The Committee meeting was chaired by the Hon. Justice Sobhitha Rajakaruna, Judge of the Court of Appeal, Sri Lanka.
The Chairman of the Regulatory Council delivered the welcome speech and Director General, Mr. Kapila De Silva of the Regulatory Council delivered and presented a key note speech regarding the legal requirements for Nuclear Power Programme. The experts around 20 people from the Attorney Generals Department, Legal Draftsman Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Power & Energy, Ceylon Electricity Board, Legal Professionals, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board and Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council took part in this event.
The meeting served as a platform to initiate a Nuclear Power Programme in Sri Lanka with drafting comprehensive National Nuclear Law since the Government of Sri Lanka has already given green light for initiating Nuclear Power Programme in Sri Lanka. The members of the Committee had a productive discussion and agreed to draft a new Act to address the lacunas in the existing Atomic Energy Act No.40 of 2014.
