Sri Lanka is working with strong dedication to uphold international standards on nuclear safety and security, Minister of Science and Technology Chrishantha Abeysena said on Monday (13).

He made the statement as Chief Guest at the regional introductory training workshop on Nuclear Forensic Science, jointly organized by the Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Regulatory Council (SLAERC) and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The programme opened on 13 July in Colombo and will run until 17 July.

The workshop was convened as part of the Integrated Nuclear Security Sustainability Plan (INSSP), reflecting Sri Lanka’s commitment to strengthening national and regional capacities to counter threats linked to radioactive materials and ensure nuclear security.

“This scientific and technical knowledge is essential for investigating incidents, identifying sources of materials, and supporting law enforcement agencies. Through such training programmes, the preparedness of regional countries to respond to crimes or illicit acts involving nuclear materials is further strengthened,” Minister Abeysena said, stressing the importance of nuclear forensic science in today’s world.

He further emphasized that robust regulatory frameworks and technical expertise are vital for national security, underscoring Sri Lanka’s role in maintaining global standards.

The training aims to raise awareness of nuclear forensic science within national response frameworks, enhance investigative technologies, improve inter‑agency coordination, and strengthen regional preparedness against unauthorized acts involving nuclear or radioactive materials.

International experts and representatives from IAEA member states including Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Mongolia, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka are participating in the programme, alongside senior officials from SLAERC and the IAEA. (Newswire)

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Minister of Science and Technology and Wattala District MP Chrishantha Abeysena yesterday joined a protest demanding the appointment of a religious sister as the principal of the Nayakakanda Good Shepherd Convent in Wattala.

The demonstration, organised by the National Collective to Protect Catholic Schools, was held to oppose the appointment of a lay principal and to call for the continuation of the school’s long-standing tradition of religious leadership.

Catholic clergy, religious sisters, alumni, teachers, parents and past pupils of the school participated in the protest.

Speaking to reporters, MP Abeysena said the demonstration was aimed at safeguarding the traditional values of the Catholic school system and supporting the appointment of a religious sister as principal of the school.

He said the event also drew support from members of Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim communities in the area, reflecting interfaith solidarity and community unity.

“The just objectives of this protest are aimed at preserving the moral and cultural identity of our educational institutions for future generations,” the Minister said.

The protest comes amid an ongoing dispute over the appointment of a lay principal through a government transfer earlier this year.

Parents and the school’s Old Girls’ Association have argued that the move departs from the school’s long-standing practice of being headed by members of the Good Shepherd religious order, although they have stated that they have no personal objections to the newly appointed principal.

The Western Province Governor has previously said the appointment was made through established administrative procedures and that it would not be appropriate to intervene in the process already undertaken by the relevant education authorities. (Newswire)

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Minister of Science and Technology Chrishantha Abeysena says Sri Lanka must prioritize purchasing from and protecting its local manufacturers, instead of relying solely on financial profits and imports.

He made the remark during a recent meeting held at the Ministry of Science and Technology, convened to facilitate an open exchange of views between traditional brass manufacturers and government officials. 

The event marked the second phase of a collective initiative aimed at revitalizing the traditional brass industry. This program was launched following a commitment made by Minister Abeysena to industrialists in the Kurukulawa South area of Wattala. 

The Minister pledged to implement a coordinated effort to revive the local brass industry and provide the necessary technical support to enhance its quality and competitiveness.

As an initial step, a team of officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Engineering Research and Development Centre (NERDC) carried out a technical observation visit to the area. The meeting then focused on planning future actions based on the findings of that field visit.

“While it is possible to import goods similar to those produced locally at a cheaper cost, our focus should not be purely on financial gain. We must prioritize the purchase of locally made products whenever possible and ensure the survival and growth of those industries. This includes providing technical guidance to reduce production costs, introducing modern manufacturing technologies, supporting the creation of high-quality and attractively finished value-added products that can compete globally, and facilitating access to modern equipment. This program is a step in that direction,” Minister Abeysena said.

During the discussion, local industrialists presented several requests to protect and strengthen the brass industry. These included securing raw materials at concessional rates through the Ministry of Industries and imposing limits on the large-scale export of such materials.

In response, government officials acknowledged these concerns and affirmed that the collective program would serve as a platform to find constructive solutions. They encouraged the industrialists to submit a formal report to the Ministry of Industries outlining their demands. The officials assured their continued support to uplift the traditional brass industry by addressing key challenges through the coordinated efforts of the Ministries of Industry, Science and Technology, Finance, and their affiliated institutions.

The meeting was attended by the Secretary to the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mohomed Navavi, along with officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Industries, Sri Lanka Industrial Development Board, National Enterprise Development Authority, National Crafts Council, NERD Centre, Sri Lanka Inventors Commission, Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies, and other stakeholders. (Newswire)

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The title ‘Professor’ included in the name of Science and Technology Minister Chrishantha Abeysena on the Parliament website has been removed, it was reported.

According to the Lankadeepa newspaper, Parliament sources said the change was made yesterday based on a request from the minister.

When inquired, Minister Chrishantha Abeysena revealed that despite holding the title ‘Professor’, he did not wish to use it as he was currently not in university service.

Stating that the title ‘Professor’ has not been included in his name in the Parliament Hanzard, he pointed out that his various documents also do not contain it.

Meanwhile, the title ‘Dr.’ which was included in the name of Justice Minister Harshana Nanayakkara was also recently removed from the Parliament website, following a request made by the minister.

The Justice Minister informed that the title had been included when he had not shared such information.

He had also filed a complaint in this regard with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), with a probe currently underway into the matter. (Newswire)

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