In a significant development, the Minister of Irrigation, Hon. Roshan Ranasinghe, and the State Minister of Irrigation, Hon. Shasheendra Rajapaksa, and other invited guests officially launched the second Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) to initiate the excavation from the southern end of a 28 km long underground tunnel. The commencement ceremony took place on November 23, 2003, at the construction site located at Konduruwawa in Elahera.
The event marked a momentous occasion, with key officials and stakeholders of the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program (MWSIP) in attendance, including representatives from the Department of Irrigation, Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, Divisional Secretariat, and representatives of other relevant stakeholders. High-ranking officials such as the Secretary to the Ministry of Irrigation, the Program Director of the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program (MWSIP), and Project Directors of the North Central Province Canal Project (NCPCP), North Western Province Canal Project (NWPCP), and Minipe Left Bank Canal Rehabilitation Project (MLBCRP) also were present to the launch.
The excavation of the extensive 28 km tunnel is now underway simultaneously from both the northern and southern ends, with the first TBM having already completed approximately 4 km of excavation from the northern portal. The launching of the second TBM aims to expedite the construction process, aligning with the project’s set targets. This milestone underscores a significant step forward in the progress of the North Central Province Canal Project.
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