Country Situation Report on Chemical Accident Prevention and Preparedness Programme in Sri ...

134 Pages·2013·3.22 MB·English

Country Situation Report

on Chemical Accident Prevention and
Preparedness Programme in
Sri Lanka

Task Force on Chemical Accident Prevention
and Preparedness Programme in Sri Lanka

i
Acknowledgments

This Country Situation Report is written as one of the activities involved in the Assessment
Phase of the Chemical Accident Prevention and Preparedness Programme Project in Sri
Lanka.

The Chemical Accident Prevention and Preparedness Programme for Sri Lanka (CAPP-SL)
Project is funded by the ―Strategic Approach to International Chemical Management Quick
Start Programme Trust Fund‖ (SAICM QSP TF). This project is currently being implemented
by the Central Environment Authority of Sri Lanka (CEA) jointly with United Nations
Environment Programme and with technical guidance provided by the Asian Disaster
Preparedness Center (ADPC) in Bangkok, Thailand.

The National Task Force has been established to steer the project implementation and provide
strategic guidance on CAPP. The members of the Task Force met between February 2013
and May 2013 and provided information to develop this Country Situation Report.

Members of the National Task Force include:
Mr. K. H. Muthukudaarachchi (Central Environmental Authority)
Dr. Sanjaya Ratnayake (Central Environmental Authority)
Ms. Nelka Perera (Central Environmental Authority)
Ms. Sujatha Wijesundara (Department of Labor)
Ms. Lekha Sumanasekara (Ministry of Agriculture)
Ms. Anoma Senevirathne (Ceylon Petroleum Corporation)
Mr. Bandula Herath (Ministry of Defense & Urban Development)
Mr. Hiran Tillekaratne (Disaster Management Centre)
Dr. Ananda Jayalal (Ministry of Health)
Dr. Inoka Suraweera (Ministry of Health)
Ms. Sherine Perera (Board of Investment Sri Lanka)
Mr. Asitha Seneviratne (Ministry of Industry and Commerce)
Mr. Malik Perera (Sri Lanka Customs)

Task Force Advisory Support Team Members:
Mr. Samantha Kumarasena (National Cleaner Production Centre)
Dr. Manisha Gunasekera (University of Moratuwa) (National Consultant)
Ms. Vijitha Vivekanantharajah (Asian Disaster Preparedness Center)
Prof. Ajith de Alwis (University of Moratuwa) (National Expert)

A reviewed report and comments on this Country Situation Report (CSR) were given by the
International Experts, Ms. Amanda Cockton, Mr. Jan Slijpen, Mr. Mark Hailwood, Ms.
Johanna Suikkanen and Ms. Sanja Ursanic. They were valuable in finalizing the CSR report.

Advice and support were given by Mr. Sisira Kumara, Senior Training Manager of Asian
Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC) throughout the preparation of this report.

ii
Table of Contents

Executive Summary 1

Chapter 1
Background Information 3
1.1 Description of the Country Situation Report 3
1.2 Purpose of the Report 4
1.3 Resources Used to Create Report 5
1.4 National Demographic, Economic and Administrative Facts 9
1.4.1 Key Physical Features and Climate 9
1.4.2 Population and Literacy Rates 10
1.4.3 Official Languages 13
1.4.4 Government and Administration Structure 13
1.4.5 Key Industry and Agriculture Economic Sectors 13
1.4.6 Key Health and Environmental Concerns 15
1.5 Maps 17

Chapter 2
Accident Potential and History 21
2.1 Amount and Location of Chemicals of Concern 21
2.2 Hazardous Installations in the Country 35
2.2.1 Key Hazardous Installations 35
2.2.2 Maps of Hazardous Installations 37
2.2.3 Plans for Future Industrial Development 43
2.3 Accident Case History in Sri Lanka 45
2.4 Other Issues Affecting Likelihood of Accidents 56
2.5 Analysis 59

Chapter 3
Government Infrastructure 60

Chapter 4
Regulatory and Non-regulatory Instruments 72
4.1 Regulatory Instruments 72
4.2 Non-regulatory Mechanisms 84
4.3 International Activities 85
4.4 Analysis 89

Chapter 5
Non-governmental Activities 91

Chapter 6
Community Awareness 94
6.1 Disaster Management Centre 94
6.2 National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC) 96
6.3 Ministry of Industry and Commerce 96
6.4 National Authority for the Implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention 96
iii
6.5 Shipping Aviation Information and Research Institute 97
6.6 Ministry of Environment and the Central Environmental Authority 97

Chapter 7
Available Resources 98
7.1 Sources of Resources 98
7.2 Additional Resources Needed for Chemical Accident Prevention
and Preparedness Activities 103

Chapter 8
Other Relevant Information 105

Chapter 9
Conclusions 106

Glossary 108

Appendices 110
Appendix A: Hazardous Waste in 2012 from BOI enterprises and other
installations
Appendix B: Location Maps of Hazardous Installations
Appendix C: Banned Pesticides in Sri Lanka
Appendix D: Hazardous agro chemicals imported/handled or stored/transported
in Sri Lanka for the years 2001 to 2011
Appendix E: Imports of Herbicides and Fungicides in 2011
Appendix F: Chemical industries registered in the Ministry of Industry and
Commerce in recent three years: under the category of ‗Chemical,
Petroleum, Rubber and Plastic Product‘
Appendix G: Water Resources near Export Processing Zones
Appendix H: Industrial Estates in Sri Lanka
Agricultural Areas in Sri Lanka
Mineral Resources and Graphite Working Mines in Sri Lanka
Appendix I: Pesticide Poisoning Incidents Data
Appendix J: Summary of Scheduled Waste in National Environmental (Protection
and Quality) Regulations, No. 1 of 2008

iv
List of Figures

Figure 1.4.1: Location of Sri Lanka 9
Figure 1.5.1: Population Density by District 2012 17
Figure 1.5.2: Ports Managed by Sri Lanka Ports Authority 18
Figure 1.5.3: Locations of Export Processing Zones Managed by BOI 19
Figure 1.5.4: Export Processing Zones, Industrial Parks, Export Processing Parks
and Industrial Colonies in Sri Lanka 20
Figure 2.2.1: Kolonnawa Bulk Storage Terminal 37
Figure 2.2.2: Muthurajawela Bulk Storage Installation 38
Figure 2.2.3: Colombo Port Bulk Storage Installation 39
Figure 2.2.4: Orugodawatta Crude Oil Storage 40
Figure 2.2.5: Sapugaskanda Oil Refinery 41
Figure 2.2.6: Export Processing Zones: Biyagama, Katunayake and Seethawaka 42
Figure 2.3.1: Blast at Explosives Magazine-Karadiyanaru Police Station 51

List of Tables

Table 1.4.1: Key Climate Conditions 9
Table 1.4.2.1: Population enumerated at the census, intercensal increase,
and average annual growth rate 10
Table 1.4.2.2: Key Population Data 10
Table 1.4.2.3: Population Distribution by Province and District, 2012 11
Table 1.4.2.4: Literacy Rate (%) by Sector and Gender – 2011 12
Table 1.4.2.5: Literacy Rates by District – 2011 12
Table 1.4.2.6: Number Literate and Literacy Rates by Census Years & Sex 12
Table 1.4.5.1: Gross National Product by industrial origin at constant 2002 prices 14
Table 1.4.5.2: Gross National Product of industry at constant 2002 prices 14
Table 1.4.5.3: Composition of Industrial Production Index (IPI) – 2011 14
Table 1.4.5.4: Production Trends in Principle Agricultural Crops 15
Table 1.4.5.5: Key Economic Indicators 15
Table 1.4.6.1: Health Indicators 16
Table 1.4.6.2: Salient Features of Health Services 16
Table 2.1.1: Hazardous chemicals produced in oil refinery at Sapugaskanda, Sri Lanka 22
Table 2.1.2: Hazardous chemicals imported to Sri Lanka by CPC 23
Table 2.1.3: Hazardous chemicals used, handled and stored by CPC, Sri Lanka 23
Table 2.1.4: Hazardous chemicals transported by CPC Sri Lanka 24
Table 2.1.5: Hazardous wastes in oil refinery at Sapugaskanda, Sri Lanka 25
Table 2.1.6: Hazardous chemicals imported, used, handled/stored within
BOI enterprises 25
Table 2.1.7: Hazardous chemicals exported from Sri Lanka - BOI enterprises 28
Table 2.1.8: Hazardous solvent wastes in 2012 from BOI enterprises and other
installations MT per year 29
Table 2.1.9: Imports of insecticides in 2011 30
Table 2.1.10: Agro chemical importers registered with Registrar of Pesticides
at Peradeniya Office 31
Table 2.1.11: Hazardous chemicals stocks at Medical Supplies Division stores
at Wellawatte 32
Table 2.1.12: Maximum quantities of chemicals imported: Sri Lanka Customs Data
v
(from 01.03.2013 to 31.03.2013). 33
Table 2.1.13: Maximum quantities of fertilizer imported
from 01.03.2013 to 31.03.2013. 34
Table 2.1.14: Anhydrous Ammonia (HS code: 28141000): Maximum quantity imported 34
Table 2.2.1.1: Hazardous installations: CPC locations 35
Table 2.2.1.2: BOI enterprises importing, using, handling, storing hazardous
chemicals in large amounts per year. 36
Table 2.2.1.3: Hazardous chemical stocks in large amounts at Medical
Supplies Division (MSD), Wellawatta. 36
Table 2.2.1.4: Installation locations based on accident history data 36
Table 2.2.3.1: Plans for future industrial development that may involve
hazardous chemicals as at 11.04.2013 BOI enterprises. 44
Table 2.3.1: Past Accident Records – Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) 45
Table 2.3.2: Past Accident Records – Department of Labor 48
Table 2.3.3: Past Accident Records – Defense Ministry 50
Table 2.3.4: Past Accident Records – BOI Enterprises 52
Table 2.3.5: Past Accident Records – From local news paper articles 52
Table 2.3.6: Past Accident Records – Off shore incidents 54
Table 3.1: A list of CAPP related activities and a list of national government
and local institutions involved in CAPP related activities 60
Table 3.2: Responsibilities related to Chemical Accident Prevention and
Preparedness: Ceylon Petroleum Corporation 62
Table 3.3: Responsibilities related to Chemical Accident Prevention and
Preparedness: Ministry of Defense and Urban Development 63
Table 3.4: Responsibilities related to Chemical Accident Prevention and
Preparedness: Board of Investment of Sri Lanka (BOI) 64
Table 4.1.1: Legal Instrument and Related Authority 72
Table 4.1.2: Summary of Explosives Act related to CAPP 73
Table 4.1.3: Summary of Petroleum Ordinance and Ceylon Petroleum Corporation
Act related to CAAP 74
Table 4.1.4: Summary of Board of Investment Law related to CAPP 75
Table 4.1.5: Summary of Factories Ordinance related to CAPP 76
Table 4.1.6: Summary of Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Act related to CAPP 77
Table 4.1.7: Summary of Control of Pesticides Act related to CAPP 79
Table 4.1.8: Summary of Regulation of Fertilizer Act related to CAPP 79
Table 4.1.9: Summary of Sri Lanka Disaster Management Act related to CAPP 79
Table 4.1.10: Summary of Chemical Weapons Convention Act related to CAPP 80
Table 4.1.11: Summary of National Environmental Act related to CAPP 80
Table 4.1.12: Summary of Import and Export Control Act related to CAPP 82
Table 4.1.13: Summary of Customs Ordinance related to CAPP 83
Table 4.1.14: Summary of Mines and Minerals Act related to CAPP 83
Table 4.1.15: Summary of Urban Development Authority Law related to CAPP 83
Table 4.1.16: Summary of Atomic Energy Authority Act related to CAPP 83
Table 4.2: Inter-governmental relationship between Ministry of Defense and
Urban Development Sri Lanka and International Organizations 86
Table 7.1.1: Experts to address chemical accident issues 98
Table 7.1.2: Training programmes conducted or run by various organizations
on subjects related to a CAPP Programme 100
Table 7.2: Sources of funding to address chemical accident issues 101
Table 7.3: Sources of information to address chemical accident issues 101
vi
Table 7.4: Equipment or Technology resources to address chemical accident issues 102

vii
Executive Summary

The Chemical Accident Prevention and Preparedness Programme for Sri Lanka (CAPP-SL)
Project aims at developing a Chemical Accident Prevention and Preparedness Programme for
the country that will mitigate the impacts of chemical accidents and reduce the number of
chemical accidents that occur. This project is being implemented by the Central
Environmental Authority. The project is funded by SAICM‘s Quick Start Programme Trust
Fund. At the assessment phase of this project, this Country Situation Report was developed,
which would assist in the development of a roadmap for the CAPP Programme in the
following phase.

This Country Situation Report was developed based on the guidance given in, ‗A Flexible
Framework for Addressing Chemical Accident Prevention and Preparedness: A Guidance
Document’, by the United Nations Environment Programme, 2010. The Country Situation
Report gives an overview of the current situation of Sri Lanka on various aspects related to
chemical accident prevention and preparedness. The National Task Force members of the
CAPP Programme project provided most of the information for this report.

Sri Lanka is an island located in the centre of Indian Ocean with a total land area
approximately 65610 square kilometers and a population of approximately 20,277,597. The
key economic sectors in the country are agriculture, industry and services. The industry
sector contributes about 29% to the GDP. Most of the chemical related industries in the
country import their chemical needs. The use of chemicals, handling and storing activities are
involved in these installations. Production of hazardous chemicals is done in few industries.
One of the major producers of hazardous chemicals is the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation.
Some BOI companies export chemical substances such as lead ash, lead monoxide and lead
oxide. The agriculture sector is involved in importing chemicals related to fertilizer,
insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. There are installations where these substances are
handled, used and stored. One of the major plans for future chemical industrial development
includes a Polyethylene Terepthalate (PET) plant in Hambantota.

Accident case history in Sri Lanka indicates that there have been accidents related to oil
spillages and leaks in oil refinery and crude oil storage tanks. Several incidents of fires and
explosions have occurred when cutting sealed empty chemical barrels with oxy acetylene
welding and while gunpowder mixing in firework manufacturing factories. Other accidents
experienced in Sri Lanka include chlorine chemical leak, chemical fires in the Colombo port,
a fire in a boat manufacturing chemical supplier‘s installation and oil and chemical spillage
accidents in ships.

There are several government organizations that have responsibilities related to chemical
accident prevention and preparedness. The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation have
responsibilities and activities related to production, storage, importation, transportation, use,
labor safety and fire protection of oil. The Ministry of Defense and Urban Development is
involved with similar responsibilities related to explosives. The Board Of Investment together
with other organizations, jointly carries out these responsibilities. The Registrar of Pesticides,
Ministry of Health, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, National Authority for Chemical
Weapons Convention, Department of Labor and the Central Environmental Authority are
other Organizations involved in CAPP related activities. The legal instruments in Sri Lanka
related to CAPP activities are National Environmental Act, Factories Ordinance, Control of
1
Pesticides Act, Regulation of Fertilizer Act, Petroleum Ordinance, Ceylon Petroleum
Corporation Act, Chemical Weapons Act, Explosives Act, Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs
Act, Board of Investment Law and Mines and Minerals Act. Non regulatory mechanisms,
such as the National Safety Awards and National Safety and Health Week, promote
improvement of safety in industries.

Nongovernmental activities related to CAPP include disposal solutions provided by Geocycle
for hazardous wastes and promotion of safer workplace and protection of environment
through safer management of chemicals done by Lanka Responsible Care Council.
Universities such as the University of Colombo, University of Peradeniya and the University
of Moratuwa are engaged in activities such as conducting training programmes and research
related to CAPP. Awareness programmes and activities related to CAPP are implemented by
governmental as well as nongovernmental organizations such as the Disaster Management
Centre, National Cleaner Production Centre, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, National
Authority for the Implementation of Chemical Weapons Convention and the Central
Environmental Authority. The resources available to address chemical accident prevention
and preparedness include staff that can be trained to assign CAPP related responsibilities,
equipment and sources of data.

The data available on hazardous chemical types and quantity information show that possible
hazardous chemical installations exist in Sri Lanka. There are government organizations
having some involvement in implementation and enforcement of chemical accident
prevention and preparedness related activities. The legal instruments in this country have
regulations related to CAPP. However for an effective CAPP programme new regulations or
a legal instrument is needed. The current resources available are not sufficient to address a
CAPP Programme. Training of staff, sources of funding, equipment and databases related to
CAPP are required.

2
Chapter 1

Background Information

As an industrially developing country where the chemical industry is expected to grow
rapidly, addressing chemical accidents should be considered in a timely manner in order to
support achieving Sri Lanka‘s sustainable development goals. The awareness of past
chemical accidents in the world and their associated losses along with the rise in hazards and
risks with increased chemical manufacturing industries and related activities have further
increased the need to look into chemical accident prevention and preparedness. In order to
reduce chemical accidents in the future and improve preparedness planning, an understanding
of the key factors related to chemical accident prevention and preparedness in Sri Lanka is
required. This report gives an overview of the country‘s current situation regarding chemical
accident prevention and preparedness.

1.1 Description of the Country Situation Report

This Country Situation Report describes important areas related to chemical accident
prevention and preparedness in Sri Lanka. These areas are presented in nine chapters giving
details of the country‘s background information, accident potential and history, government
infrastructure, regulatory and non regulatory information, nongovernmental activities,
community awareness, available resources, other relevant information and conclusions.

The background information in Chapter one includes the purpose of this report, resources
used in preparing the report and national demographic, economic and administrative facts
about Sri Lanka.

Chapter two, where the accident potential and history are described, gives an overview of
hazardous chemicals processed, imported, used and handled in the country. This includes the
type of hazardous chemicals and their quantities. These data are used to identify the
hazardous installations in the country. The locations of these installations, quantities of
chemicals involved and the type and hazards involved are identified. The chemical related
industrial development plans for future are also discussed. A compilation of information on
accidents related to hazardous chemicals is done while identifying their immediate effects
such as fire, explosions, toxic releases and chemical spillages. Other factors that are relevant
to accidents in the chemical industry such as natural disasters observed in the country,
available hazard maps, the national system for emergency preparedness and fire and rescue
services are also identified.

The third chapter gives an overview of the government organizations‘ current responsibilities
related to chemical accident prevention and preparedness. This identifies involvement of the
government body in the development, implementation and enforcement of related laws,
policies or programmes. Chapter four contains information on regulatory and non regulatory
instruments relevant to chemical accident prevention and preparedness in the country. An
overview of international agreements and project activities related to chemical management
is also presented.

3