The United States and Sri Lanka have strengthened cooperation aimed at detecting and deterring the illicit trafficking of nuclear and other radioactive materials.
The latest programme included a five-day workshop held in Colombo from September 21 to 25.
The initiative involved the US Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Smuggling Detection and Deterrence and the Sri Lanka Navy.
Focus on detection and response
The programme is intended to strengthen Sri Lankan capabilities to identify and respond to potential nuclear-smuggling threats.
Such cooperation forms part of broader efforts to prevent illicit trafficking of nuclear and radioactive materials and strengthen detection capabilities at borders and other relevant locations.
Capacity building does not establish an active smuggling case
The programme must not be interpreted as evidence that authorities have recently discovered nuclear material being smuggled through Sri Lanka.
No specific nuclear-smuggling plot or seizure should be inferred from the training and cooperation announcement.
This is a counter-smuggling and capacity-building initiative, not an announcement of a detected nuclear incident.
Likewise, the existence of international cooperation does not by itself indicate that Sri Lanka faces a newly identified or exceptional nuclear-smuggling threat.