The Sri Lankan government is planning to increase diplomatic engagement on India's controversial Kundankulam nuclear power plant over safety issues, an official said here Monday.

Increased diplomatic exchanges are necessary for Sri Lanka to become more involved in the nuclear power plant being built in the southern part of the country, External Affairs Ministry Secretary K. Amunugama told the media.

The Kundankulam plant has run into controversy in Sri Lanka due to its close proximity to the northern part of the island. The plant is only 250 kilometers from the northern town of Mannar.

Sri Lankan environmentalists have questioned safety measures planned by the plant and urged the local government to push for more stringent measures after Japan's Fukushima disaster. "India has the right to have an atomic programme and Sri Lanka has the same right to protect its interests. Therefore, stronger engagement is necessary to see that both these goals are met,"he said.

Pointing out the sensitiveness of the issue, Amunugama called on the Atomic Energy Authority (AEA)of both countries to work together and keep governments informed periodically.

Earlier this month, Sri Lankan AEA officials traveled to India for talks on the nuclear power plant. During the meeting, both parties signed an agreement to engage on nuclear issues and pledged to conduct regular discussions.

Meanwhile, India's Supreme Court has called on the central government to make clear the methods that will be adopted to dispose atomic waste when the plant becomes operational.

The court asked the Nuclear Power Corporation of India (NPCI) which operates the plant questions on how it intended to transport the nuclear waste out of the complex and later store it in a safe place without polluting the environment. Endi

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