US, SL mark 20 years of port security cooperation with Colombo radiation detection upgrade

Wednesday, 14 May 2025 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

US Ambassador Julie Chung alongside officials from Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board, the Colombo West International Terminal and the US Department of Energy

A vehicle approaching newly commissioned radiation detection equipment at Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT)

US Ambassador Julie Chung alongside CWIT CEO Munish Kanwar observing operations room at CWIT

US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung recently commissioned new radiation detection equipment at Port of Colombo, provided by the US Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA)’s Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence (NSDD) through its Megaports Initiative. The equipment, valued at approximately

$ 500,000 (Rs. 148 million), will be used at the Port of Colombo’s West Container Terminal to detect and alert authorities to the presence of radioactive materials, supporting Sri Lanka’s national port security regulations, strengthening global supply chain security and extending America’s security perimeter by detecting threats at key transit hubs before they reach US or international shores. Senior officials from Sri Lanka Customs, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board joined the commissioning ceremony and partnered with US experts to train Sri Lankan instructors and maintenance technicians.

Since the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in 2004, the United States and Sri Lanka have worked closely through the Megaports Initiative to prevent the spread of nuclear and other radioactive materials through the Port of Colombo. Highlighting the strength of the partnership, US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung stated, “Sri Lanka is one of our longest-standing partners in the fight against nuclear smuggling. With over $ 31 million —more than nine billion rupees— invested since 2004, the Megaports Initiative has strengthened Sri Lanka’s ability to secure one of the world’s most strategic maritime trade routes. Today’s commissioning at the Port of Colombo marks another milestone in our 20-year partnership and shared commitment to protecting global supply chains, preventing the spread of nuclear materials, and detecting dangerous materials before they can cross borders.”

Commenced in 2003, the Megaports Initiative, led by DOE/NNSA, is a global program designed to prevent the illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive materials through international shipping ports. By working in partnership with host countries, the initiative strengthens global security through the installation of advanced radiation detection equipment and the training of customs and port authorities. The NNSA’s Megaports Initiative helps make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous by partnering with countries around the world to detect and deter nuclear smuggling while protecting the flow of legitimate global trade.

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