According to reports, Sri Lanka Atomic Energy Authority (AEA) has ordered to send back a consignment of goods contaminated with highly radioactive material arrived on board a vessel from India. The consignment, contaminated with a radioactive material has been discovered by the port authorities in a 40-foot container and upon testing it has been found that 125 units of stainless steel and aluminium products, were all contaminated. Radiation tests carried out by the AEA had revealed traces of Cobalt 60, which is a highly radioactive element used in the treatment of cancer. The container is currently placed at a special location under the supervision of the AEA. Chairman, AEA, Dr. R. Wijewardena has said that following the analysis by the Radiation Protection Division of the AEA, the authority has ordered to send the shipment back to India. 1

Reports noted that President Mahinda Rajapaksa met with Speaker of India's Lok Sabha Meira Kumar on September 13 in Colombo. During the meeting, Ms. Kumar suggested that Sri Lanka and India should have greater parliamentary exchanges. The Speaker conveyed her appreciation for the arrangements made by Sri Lankan officials for hosting the 58th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference and thanked for the warm hospitality accorded to the delegations. The Indian Speaker has also met Sri Lankan Minister of External Affairs Prof. G.L. Peiris. Mrs. Kumar was accompanied by accompanied by Prof. P.J. Kurien, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India, and T.K. Viswanathan, Secretary General, Lok Sabha. 2

In another development, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has met with Pakistani Parliamentary delegation led by Dr. Nafisa Shah, Member of the National Assembly of Pakistan and Chairperson of National Commission for Human Development and said that Sri Lanka would not have eliminated the scourge of terrorism without the help and support of Pakistan. 3

In other developments, according to reports, a top legislator of China, chairman of National People's Congress (NPC) Wu Bangguo arrived in Sri Lanka on September 15, 2012 on an invitation extended by Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa. 4

The delegation from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) that arrived in Sri Lanka September 14, has been apprised of the post-conflict progress on human rights issues. The team headed by Hanny Megally, Chief, Asia Pacific and Middle East and North African Branch of OHCHR accompanied by Oscar Solers, Human rights officer, Rule of Law and Democracy selection of OHCHR met Sri Lanka's Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa at the Ministry of Economic Development upon their arrival. 5

• 1. “Sri Lanka to return the radioactive shipment back”, Colombo Page, September 16, 2012 at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_12A/Sep16_1347779420CH.php.
• 2. “India calls for greater parliamentary exchanges with Sri Lanka”, Colombo Page, September 13, 2012 at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_12A/Sep13_1347558671CH.php.
• 3. “Sri Lanka would not have defeated terrorism without Pakistan's Support – President”, Colombo Page, September 14, 2012 at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_12A/Sep14_1347628601CH.php.
• 4. “Top level Chinese legislator arrives in Sri Lanka”, Colombo Page, September 16, 2012 http://www.colombopage.com/archive_12A/Sep16_1347769670CH.php.
• 5. “UN team briefed on Sri Lanka's post-conflict progress on human rights”, Colombo Page, September 16, 2012 at http://www.colombopage.com/archive_12A/Sep16_1347738224CH.php.