The Mahaweli Project

 

The Mahaweli Project

          Mahaweli is the longest river that commences the water flow from Samanala Kanda “Adams Peak” in the Sabaragamuwa District. This river covers the vast area of 335km flow to Trincomale and then to the sea. This is the longest irrigation scheme in Sri Lanka. This scheme was inaugurated by then prime minister late Miss. Srimavo Bandaranayake and there are after during the U.N.P. government completed this project under the special accelerated program by then minister of irrigation and agriculture late Gamini Dissanayake before the due date.

          The first dam was erected from Polgolla and the water was diverted to North and East. Water was then used to produce Hydro Electricity. Polgolla, Victoria, Randenigala are the three hydro electricity stations. After using water producing hydro electricity then it was diverted to various irrigation projects in the Anuradhapura and the Polonnaruwa districts. Thousands acres of lands which was neglected and could not cultivate became green farms with paddy. The irrigation process of Mahaweli project was powerful enough to generate a high voltage and to illuminate one third of the island. Sri Lanka received in unpresidented foreign aids from countries such as Britain, Canada, France and Sweden for this massive project.