The Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program (MWSIP) – Stage II has reached a remarkable engineering milestone with the successful underground breakthrough of the 27.7-kilometre North Central Province Canal Project (NCPCP) tunnel—the longest irrigation tunnel in South Asia. Excavated using two advanced Double Shield Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), the tunnel was constructed simultaneously from the northern and southern portals before the two machines met deep underground after overcoming complex geological conditions.
TBM-1 completed 16.943 kilometres while TBM-2 excavated 9.589 kilometres, together completing one of Sri Lanka’s most technically challenging irrigation infrastructure projects. This achievement demonstrates the country’s growing engineering capability and the strong collaboration among the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), PMDSC, and all project stakeholders.
The successful breakthrough marks a significant step towards strengthening national water security, improving irrigation, and supporting sustainable agricultural development for future generations.
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