On November 11, 2024, a trial water release was conducted along the 8.8 km long Kaluganga-Moragahakanda transfer canal, which transports water from the Kaluganga Reservoir to the Moragahakanda Reservoir.
Construction of this canal, initiated in 2019 by Sinohydro (Contractor), aims to provide the water to the proposed North Central Province Canal from the Kaluganga Reservoir. The canal is designed to carry a water flow of 35 cubic meters per second, and it is planned to release 100 million cubic meters of water annually from the existing Kaluganga Reservoir to the Moragahakanda Reservoir in Phase 1 of the Program.
Following the release of water, studies and tests were conducted on the water flow speed, water-holding capacity, and other technical aspects including identifying any defects.. This significant irrigation construction, comprising both open and closed canal sections and the tunnel, is expected to make a historical mark.
The occasion was attended by several officials, including Deputy Director General (Technical) of the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, Eng.Nilantha Dhanapala; Civil Engineer Hemanta Dedigama;
Engineer in Charge of Kaluganga and Moragahakanda Reservoir Eng. Susanta Bandara and Kaluganga Reservoir Civil Engineer Lahiru Ranasinghe. Also present were Technical and Engineering staff from the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program, along with Project Director and the officials of the Project Implementation Unit, PMDSC’s Team Leader, Chief Resident Engineer, Resident Engineers, and Project Manager and his key staff of the contracting company.
Following this successful testing phase, the canal is expected to be handed over to the Mahaweli Authority of Srilanka, marking a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s Irrigation Sector to benefit communities and agriculture in the North Central Province.
Stay tuned for more updates on this transformative project that promises to reshape water resource management in Sri Lanka!
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