U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung commissioned new radiation detection equipment at the Port of Colombo on March 28. The equipment, valued at approximately $500,000 (Rs. 148 million), was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration's Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence through its Megaports Initiative. This initiative aims to detect radioactive materials, supporting Sri Lanka’s national port security regulations and enhancing global supply chain security.
Senior officials from Sri Lanka Customs, the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, and the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Board attended the commissioning ceremony. They collaborated with U.S. experts to train Sri Lankan instructors and maintenance technicians.
Since a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2004, the United States and Sri Lanka have worked together through the Megaports Initiative to prevent nuclear smuggling via the Port of Colombo. U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung emphasized this partnership: “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."
The U.S. Megaports Initiative began in 2003 and is led by DOE/NNSA. It is a global program aimed at preventing illicit trafficking of nuclear materials through international ports by installing advanced radiation detection equipment and training customs officials worldwide.