First joint Hazmat training goes live in Colombo

From left: Holcim Lanka CEO Philippe Richart, Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen and Ministry of Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi, at the ‘Towards Safe and Secure Management of Hazardous materials in Sri Lanka’ session at Hilton Hotel, Colombo on 17 September

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen addresses ‘Towards Safe and Secure Management of Hazardous materials in Sri Lanka’ session at Hilton Hotel, Colombo on 17 September 

The first ever international industrial hazardous material (Hazmat) awareness session jointly held with the Lankan private sector commenced on 17 September in Colombo. 

Plastics, metals, rubber and battery have become the most ‘chemical extensive’ industries in Sri Lanka, as revealed on the same day. “I praise not only the Government’s proposal to set up 11 industrial and technical zones but even the integration of technology with industry which is a welcome step. Many of our industries use industrial chemicals but some of them use much more – plastics, metals, rubber products and battery manufacturing,” revealed Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka Rishad Bathiudeen.

Minister Bathiudeen was addressing the awareness session titled ‘Towards Safe and Secure Management of Hazardous materials in Sri Lanka’ that commenced at Hilton Hotel, Colombo. The two-day session is to create awareness for the top managements of private sector organisations about safe and secure management of hazardous materials. Netherland’s Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) resource persons from Malaysia and Hague – with OPCW students from Poland, Tunisia – are joining the session. Reps from more than 150 Lankan companies and government regulatory bodies are taking part in the pioneering sessions. 

A joint effort of the National Authority for the implementation of Chemical Weapons Convention under Ministry of Industry and Commerce as well as Holcim Lanka Ltd., the inaugural event was also joined by Ministry of Industry and Commerce Secretary T.M.K.B. Tennakoon, Ministry of Defence Secretary Karunasena Hettiarachchi and Holcim Lanka CEO Philippe Richart. At the event, a special message by President Maithripala Sirisena that stressed of the need for support for Lankan kidney patients was read out by the Defence Secretary and the launch of a special fund for them took place.

“We believe that sessions like these with the support of Netherland’s Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) are major steps in developing environment friendly industrial culture in Sri Lanka and enhancing industrial waste disposal,” said Minister Bathiudeen and added: “Industrial waste disposal has now gained an even more important outlook since our new Government looks to add more industries as per its new economic development efforts. Among the new development initiatives are the creation of 11 industrial and technical zones, 45 economic development zones, 2 tourism zones, 23 agricultural zones, 10 fisheries development zones and 2,500 market-centred cluster villages. 

“As the Industry Minister, I praise not only the Government’s proposal to set up 11 industrial and technical zones but even the integration of technology with industry which I consider as a welcome step in our economic reforms to improve in middle income rankings specially in the South Asian region. Due to its agricultural base South Asia is almost the second largest consumer of chemical based fertilisers in the world after East Asia. Sri Lanka, with its agro-base, is no different. In addition, many of our industries too use industrial chemicals but some of them use much more. Our plastics, metals rubber products and battery manufacturing are some examples. 

“Therefore it is time we take a closer look at our industrial chemical handling and create awareness to leading hazardous chemical handlers. This is also a key reason why events such as these have increasingly been supported by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce. I am pleased of Holcim Geocycle’s technological efforts since it is not only a pioneering project with success but also a good example of national sustainable waste disposal that the other private sector firms could follow.”

Netherland’s OPCW has been continuing their support to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Lankan chemical sector over the years. The Colombo OPCW sessions on South Asian Chemical Safety held last December in Colombo saw renowned chemical experts meeting face to face together in Sri Lanka for the first time.