12. Powers of the Authority

to co-ordinate with other relevant government departments and institutions with a view to—

administering the licensing and permit scheme for the regulation of toxic chemicals or their precursors specified in Schedules I, II and III to this Act, and unscheduled discrete organic chemicals or the facilities used to produce them ; and

assisting the relevant authorities in developing a national protection programme and appraising the OPCW periodically of its progress ;

to monitor the implementation of the provisions of this Act and the regulations made thereunder ;

to facilitate routine industry inspections ;

to interact with other relevant Government entities and carry out such functions and duties as are assigned to the Authority under this Act or any regulation made thereunder ;

to advise the Minister on matters relevant to the making of regulations under this Act ;

to perform any other tasks assigned to it by the

to do anything incidental or conducive to the performance of any of the functions referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d).

monitor compliance with the provisions of the

regulate and monitor the development, production, processing, consumption, transfer, import, export or use of chemicals and their precursors specified in

make a request to, or grant a request of, a State Party for assistance and protection under Article X, against the use or threat of use of chemical weapons ;

make periodic inspections or challenge inspections or investigate, into the use of chemical weapons or riot control agents as a method of warfare ;

conduct inspections for the purposes of this Act ;

interact with the OPCW with a view to ensuring the acceptance of Sri Lanka’s request for challenge inspections or to counter any frivolous or defamatory request made by any State Party against Sri Lanka to the OPCW ;

scrutinize and if satisfied, accept the list of OPCW inspectors and verify the approved equipment brought by an inspection team on to the inspection site ;

ensure confidentiality and maintain secrecy of confidential information and technology collected or receivied by the Authority under the Act;

call for such information from any person where the

provide training to inspectors appointed under section 17 ;

co-ordinate the exchange of scientific and technological information among laboratories handling toxic chemicals or precursors ;

facilitate international exchange of scientific and technical information, chemicals and equipment for the production, processing or use of chemicals for purposes not prohibited under the Convention ;

determine, from time to time, the quantum of any chemical or precursor listed in Schedules I, II and III to this Act that a person at any time may produce, acquire, retain, transfer or use for purposes not prohibited under the Convention ; and

carry out such other functions as may be prescribed.