Features

Mahaweli Project – North Central Province canal: A tunnel in the wilderness?

Published

2 years ago

2024/02/12

by Eng. L.V. Talagala
C Eng., B Sc. Eng (Cey), M Sc (Southampton), MIE. MASCE
former Director (System B&C), Mahaweli Engineering and Construction Agency of Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka.

The Mahaweli Multi-Purpose Development Project is based on the Master Plan for maximum utilisation of water resources of the Mahaweli Ganga, prepared in 1965/68. The plan envisages development of 360,000 ha of irrigable land, mainly in the dry Zone in Mahaweli and adjoining river basins designated as Systems A to M, as well as 900 MW of Hydropower. The works involve the construction of several Dams and river diversion structures, together with a network of tunnels and canals.

During the 1970-77 period the Polgolla and Bowatenna river diversion works with power stations, improvements to Kalawewa, together with some land development works in the Kala Oya basin, feeder canal to Huruluwewa, and widening of Elahera Minneriya Yoda Ela were completed. Since 1977, under the Accelerated Mahaweli Development Programme, five major projects Viz, Kotmale, Victoria, Randenigala, Rantembe and Maduru Oya Dams and Hydropower plants with the total potential of around 600 MW , downstream development of about 112,000 ha in Systems B, C, H and G, and settlement of around 100,000 farmer families were carried out. A total of around Rs,1000 m (approx. 900 m US$) has been invested and direct benefits were accrued through hydropower and agricultural production. The completed projects continue to make a significant contribution to the national economy.

The current development works commenced in 2007, after Feasibility and Environmental studies, with the construction of the Moragahakanda and Kaluganga reservoirs in the Ambanganga basin. These were completed in 2018 and 2022 respectively, at a cost of over 400 m US$, and are linked together by short canals and tunnels. The combined storage capacity is around 700 million cubic meters(mcm), which is more than the capacity of Minneriya, Parakrama Samudra, Kaudulla and Kantalai tanks together.

The water stored in these reservoirs have to be conveyed to the designated areas in the North Central and Northern Provinces for agriculture. The conveyance waterway, from Moragahakanda, is called the North Central Province Canal (Ref. Fig 1). The first 20 km of the waterway runs parallel to the existing Elahera Minneriya Yoda Ela (EMYE) on a higher elevation contour and gradually turns in a Northerly direction along the centre spinal ridge that divides the river basins flowing to the west and eastern coasts of the island to end at Chennadikulam tank. This would be the most expensive and the longest (155 km approx.) waterway in Sri Lanka.

The construction work is undertaken under the North Central Province Canal Project (NCPCP) in two stages and implemented by the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Project (MWSIP) under the Ministry of Irrigation with ADB funding. A sum of around 600 m US$ is committed for the next few years for the construction of NCPCP Stage 1 works and is expected to be completed in 2026. The work involved for Stage 2 is yet to be finalized and would cost over 500 m US$. Additional costs will be incurred for Downstream Development works including the provision of irrigation facilities for the agricultural lands. (See Fig 1 and Fig 2)

North Central Province Canal Project (NCPCP) – Stage 1

(also referred to as Upper Elahera Canal (UEC) (Ref. Fig 2)

The NCPCP Stage 1 works involve

the construction of the first 65 km, of the conveyance waterway of capacity 40 m3/s, with 27 km long Tunnel and the upstream and downstream canal sections, for conveyance of water from Moragahakanda reservoir to a Trifurcation structure at Yakalla close to Huruluwewa. From this Trifurcation structure three branch canals will take off. One feeding Manankattiya, Eruwewa and Mahakanadarawa tanks in the Anuradhapura district. The second to Huruluwewa tank and the third branch will be an extension of UEC (NCPCP Stage 2), a further around 90 km up to Chennadikulam around Vavuniya, to feed new and existing tanks for development of mainly new lands. It is expected to convey around 500 mcm of water after Stage 1 and a further 500 mcm after Stage 2, a total of around 1000 mcm at final completion. Accordingly, only around 50 %of the tunnel capacity will be utilized on completion of Stage 1.

The canal sections should be completed at the time when the Tunnel, which is progressing satisfactorily with 2 Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM), is completed in 2026 to convey water to the expected destinations. The water conveyed at such high cost, is so precious, like gold, at this point and each cubic metre should be used wisely to obtain the best economic returns as soon as it is available.

Water Availability – Stage 1

Moragahakanda Reservoir of storage capacity of around 550 mcm is the focal point for water distribution of the system. It receives water from its own catchment through Ambanganga, Mahaweli water from Polgolla through Bowatenna and from the Kaluganga reservoir through the Link canal. After meeting the present commitments to the Elahera Anicut and additional requirements to meet. deficits in the tanks fed by the Elahera Anicut, the water availability for diversion through Stage 1 works at the Trifurcation structure at Yakalla is estimated at around 450 mcm. This is a very large quantity equivalent to about the combined storage capacity of four major irrigation tanks, viz Minneriya, Kaudulla, Parakrama Samudraya and Kantale.

From the Trifurcation at Yakalla, around 110 mcm will be diverted through branch canals, to the designated existing tanks in the Anuradhapura district to meet the irrigation deficits and water supply requirements. Accordingly, around 450-110 = 340 mcm of water is available for development of new lands for irrigated agriculture through the extension of the UEC.

Downstream Development

Downstream Development is the term used for the land development and provision of irrigation facilities for agriculture together with the social and other facilities for maximum production. Getting carried away with large dams, vast expanses of water, long tunnels, with sophisticated tunnelling equipment, and other heavy engineering works and to forget the downstream development activities has to be resisted.

With possible savings in water use, there would be at least around 350 mcm, equivalent to about the combined capacity of Minneriya, Kaudulla and Kantale tanks, for the development of at least 15,000 ha (40,000 ac) at a water usage duty of 2m. The area can be increased with time with efficient water management practices.

Sri Lanka is now nearly self-sufficient in rice and further investment to increase extent under Paddy cultivation is not needed. What is necessary is to enhance paddy yields to feed the increasing population. It is now essential to cultivate other crops for import substitution, for exports and to create allied economic activities in the newly developed lands. Hence all efforts need to be directed for modernized intensive irrigated agriculture as the President emphasizes in most of his speeches and discussions with relevant officials. Engagement of the Private Sector in this effort may be useful with suitable government administrative mechanisms to realize the desired objective.

A complex set of activities will be involved in the Planning and Construction of downstream development works with relevant items for consideration are identified below.

* Identification of probable land considering proximity to conveyance system, ownership, resettlement issues, etc.

* Suitability for agriculture, soil types etc.

* Selection of crops (cash crops, sugar cane, fruit, vegetables, horticulture, and other high value crops), Cropping Calendar, etc. Paddy under flood irrigation should not be encouraged except in existing small tank cascades.

* Settlement planning activities, selection of suitable farmers etc.

* The present system of allocation of 1 ha to each farmer has led to subsistence farming, with many continuing to be below the poverty line, and sustainable intensive irrigated agriculture envisaged would not materialize. New workable model to be worked out (E.g. Cooperative societies made up of individual farmers to run a large extent, Management by private companies with emphasis on the commercial aspect, Mechanization, etc.). Private investment in on-farm development including modern irrigation methods (furrow, sprinkler, drip irrigation, harnessing groundwater, etc.) to be encouraged.

* Farmer organizations should be more involved in equitable water distribution, facilitate agricultural services to farmers, marketing aspects, etc., and less on political activities.

* Design and Construction of irrigation facilities to suit cropping systems and farming models. Designs to incorporate measures for reduction of seepage losses, canal controls, night storage, reuse systems, demand water issues, conjunctive water use and other state of the art systems. Extension of UEC may be needed, if so design to required capacity with provision for future expansion

* Environmental, Wildlife and forest conservation.

* Provision of social infrastructure facilities.

* Marketing and Storage facilities. This aspect is very important as previous attempts for crop diversification failed manly due to lack of proper storage and marketing facilities

* Packaging, Processing and Agroindustry.

* On-farm Water Management and O&M

* Other related activities

All these activities should be in place with related infrastructure to utilize this golden resource, probably by the end of 2026. Completion of all Stage 1 construction works; downstream infrastructure works and development activities should be taken up immediately as a priority. If all activities are not properly planned and implemented the huge investment made would lie idle without yielding any return and only add to the debt burden.

North Central Province Canal Project (NCPCP) – Stage 2

The Stage 1 conveyance system (UEC) has been designed for 40 m3/s discharge capacity and expected to convey around 1000 mcm annually, on the basis that an additional 500 mcm is diverted from Randenigala and tapping water resources in Hasalaka and Heenganga tributaries on the eastern slope of the Knuckles range on-route to Kalu ganga during Stage 2 works.

Water Availability

At planning stage, it is intended to transfer around 500 mcm of water from Randenigala reservoir to Kaluganga and then to Moragahakanda reservoir through a system of Canals, Tunnels and Dams (Total length of around 40 km) This configuration would cause a huge loss (almost 25%) of peak power at existing power stations of Randenigala and Rantembe, which is not acceptable. In addition, there will be a reduction of water issues for irrigation from Minipe Anicut into systems B, C and E. Therefore, alternative conveyance routes and water sources have to be identified for conveyance of more water, around 500 mcm, through NCPCP Stage 2 works into Moragahakanda Reservoir.

An alternative conveyance route (Ref. Fig 3) is to let all water pass through power stations at Randenigala and Rantembe up to the Minipe Anicut, as at present, and then to divert the excess, through LB canal up to Existing Hasalaka reservoir. From here water to be pumped, may be in 2 Stages as a high lift will be involved, to the new upper Hasalaka Reservoir on the planned Randenigala Kaluganga route and then to follow the planned route through Heenganga into the Kaluganga reservoir.

The advantages of this alternative are that,

(i) there will be no reduction in power at existing Power stations at Randenigala and Rantembe,

(ii) not necessary to hold Randenigala (FSL 232) at high water level to allow gravity flow into Kaluganga (FSL 210). avoid expensive Tunnel (20 km) and inlet, outlet structures from Randenigala to Upper Hasalaka Oya lying through environmentally sensitive forest land in the Knuckles range and also avoid difficult operational conditions.

(iii) the possibility of incorporating Pump storage systems to generate Hydropower with the Pumping stations on the Reservoir cascade, of Upper, Intermediate and existing, dams on Hasalaka Oya.

(iv) no reduction of irrigation issues and curtailment of future developments in System B.

(v) less expensive than the proposed configuration.

The disadvantages are that

(i) power requirement for Pump stations at Hasalaka Reservoirs and associated operating costs. This can be overcome as Pump stations can operate at non peak hours with pump storage systems, and solar power can also be used for pumping.

(ii) the existing Minipe canal would have to carry the increased discharge. Whether the present canal can carry the additional discharge needs to be studied. If not, widening may be necessary mainly in the cut sections and probably modification of some structures. All depends on the water availability and at what time.

Another option, as suggested in previous studies, is to pump the drainage water in Mahaweli at Kalinga Nuwara to a new reservoir at Angamedilla and then to pump into Minneriya. This amount of water can be reduced from Moragahakanda issues to Elahera and transferred through the NCPCP.

A combination of both options may be necessary to meet the full requirement of the NCPCP, and need to be decided after further studies

Downstream Development

Together with the works of the extension of the NCPCP from Yakalla Trifurcation Northwards to the Chennadikulam a distance of around 90 km and the associated downstream development of the new lands needs to be undertaken. A large extent of new lands in systems J, K, L and M are available for development. It will be necessary to improve the existing tanks and construct new reservoirs to utilize the runoff in the basins during the rainy season and use the water from NCPCP to supplement the available water resources. (See Fig. 3)

4. Conclusions

While retaining the present emphasis on completing the infrastructure of NCPCP Stage 1 by 2026, with ADB funding it is necessary to focus on the downstream development works and activities to realize benefits as early as possible.

The water balance studies need to be updated with operational data from the new reservoirs and with pragmatic assumptions before commencement of NCPCP Stage 2 works to ensure that the new infrastructure built is not over designed.

The investment is too large for decision making on water resources allocations, when and where to invest to be left to an implementation agency, funding agency and consultancy firms. Establishment of a high-level steering committee with advice from multidisciplinary technical experts for directing and monitoring all activities is suggested.

Note
All analyses are based on the experience and studies made by the author with data and information from EIA report (MCB, Jun 2014, Updated Master Plan Study (SMEC 2016), MASL and ID websites and other sources.

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Features

Proactive peacemaking becomes a paramount need

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Wasting wars: Some war-displaced people in Lebanon. BBC

It may be some time before the full impact of food inflation is felt in the West. Until such time the world would continue to keep itself in suspense over whether the Trump administration is in earnest when it seeks to convey the impression that it is backing a negotiated solution in West Asia.

As is usually the case, consumer stress would be one of the final determinants of political change. To the degree to which the average US consumer somehow ‘muddles through’ and puts the food on the table, to the same extent would the Republican sections of the US public in particular be tolerant of the Trump administration’s inconsistent handling of the West Asian war and the main issues stemming from it. That is, there would be no grave popular disaffection and a demand for political change in the short term.

However, the indications are that the Trump administration’s support base is suffering some erosion in the wake of the current economic crisis. While reports indicate that Democratic sections are firming-up their opposition to the political centre, Republican support for Trump is also showing signs of waning, we are given to understand.

The above developments are probably why Trump is on record as having given Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a ‘dressing down’ recently on his seeming intransigence on the question of giving negotiations a chance in West Asia. The show of displeasure could be really aimed by Trump at containing the impatience of the American public.

However, the current ground situation in the Middle East, particularly the uncontained bloodshed, is likely to impress on the thinking sections of the world that more than temporary political change is needed in West Asia and the US.

A well thought out political solution that addresses all the contentious issues at the heart of the Middle East conflict is what enlightened opinion would demand, and very rightly. Right now, the ‘peace efforts’ initiated by the Trump administration give the impression of being piecemeal solutions at best.

There have been, of course, numerous initiatives in the past aimed at bringing permanent peace to the Middle East. These failed mainly because they did not address in full the root causes of the conflict.

At bottom the Middle East conflict is mainly about race and religious hate bred by socio-economic and material inequalities. For instance, if the Palestinian people were not displaced and deprived of land occupied by them at the time of the founding of the Israeli state, ethnic enmities would not have grown to the current unmanageable proportions.

When addressing the above questions, though, it must be remembered that the Israelis too were a displaced people who were entitled to land and a state of their own in the Middle East. Basically, out of these seemingly irreconcilable and conflicting demands have grown the Middle East imbroglio.

Middle East peace is considerably about reconciling these demands and arriving at a solution that would ensure the creation of two states that would opt for peaceful co-existence thereafter.

As long as the US does not see the need for a non-partisan solution that addresses the needs of both ethnicities and religions and goes all-out, as it were, to have it implemented, the Middle East would continue to bleed.

However, staunching the blood flow through the creation of two states would be only half the job done, though a very important part of it. More pernicious, pervasive and difficult to remedy are the inter-ethnic and inter-religious hatreds that have been unleashed over the decades.

However, if substantial, long-lasting peace is to be fostered in the region the latter ‘demons’ would need to be exorcised from the hearts and minds of the communities concerned. No doubt an uphill task but one that must be undertaken by those who wish the region well.

The UN would need to put its ‘best foot forward’ in such undertakings but it is time that it dawned on the international community and other caring quarters that Middle East peace, and all other such uphill challenges, require proactive peacemaking on the part of all civilized sections for their effective management. That is, public involvement in peacemaking too is a must.

Since hatreds are harboured in the human consciousness the enmities embedded in the latter need to be managed and defused judiciously alongside other undertakings in a peace process. In the case of West Asia, such enmities could be even spread globe-wide besides being multi-dimensional. For instance, it ought to be thought-provoking that Iran is insistent on a peace initiative that would also include Lebanon.

Besides security considerations it is also ethnic and religious affiliations that account for Iran making this demand. For instance, the Shias are a numerically important religious community in Lebanon and they provide a significant number of Hizbollah fighters, who are in a vital sense carrying out a ‘proxy war’ for Iran. It also needs to be factored in that Iran is a Shia-majority country.

Thus trans-border religious affiliations could add to the complexities and enormity of ethno-religious conflicts. However, the task of managing centuries-long enmities needs to be launched and prodded on with by peacemakers since a downing of arms alone would not guarantee substantive peace.

It is not realized sufficiently that the process of ending hatreds begins with mutual apologies by antagonists to a conflict for the harm inflicted on each other. This would be anathema in some ears but there is no getting away from the requirement. It is the vital first step to permanent peace anywhere.

In fact there could be no reconciliation worth speaking of without such mutual apologies. It is a point worth re-iterating in these times when even the government of Sri Lanka is voicing the need for national reconciliation. Well, without the words, ‘I am sorry’, there could be no permanent end to enmities – they would do well to remember.

The above requirements may not go down very well with governments, but they resonate in the hearts and minds of most people, since they are inheritors of religious traditions of some kind.

This is a principal reason why peacemaking works well when publics too are involved in them. The effectiveness of such campaigns increases several fold when they have a Mahatma Gandhi or a Jawaharlal Nehru at their helm. A strong proactive involvement by the public in peace could lead to the emergence of such leaders at some point in these campaigns.

Features

Dialog Brings Sri Lanka’s Largest Digital Vesak Experience to Matara

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

From left to right: Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, and Lasantha Theverapperuma experience the Dialog 5G Ultra-powered VR tours.

Official Digital Partner of the 2026 ‘Dakshina Prabha’ National Vesak Zone

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, collaborated with the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to bring one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most technologically advanced Vesak experiences to the ‘Dakshina Prabha’ National Vesak Zone. The three-day celebration, in Matara attracted more than hundred thousand visitors, who engaged with a series of innovative digital activities powered by Dialog 5G Ultra, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) experiences, digital pandols and a Data Dansala. The opening ceremony was attended by Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, along with distinguished guests and Dialog’s senior management.

One of the key attractions at the venue was the Dialog 5G Ultra-powered Virtual Reality (VR) experience, which attracted more than 35,000 participants. The activation enabled devotees to virtually visit and pay homage to sacred Buddhist sites, including the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in India and the Atamasthana in Anuradhapura, directly from the Vesak zone in Matara.

Visitors receive complimentary mobile data through Dialog’s QR-powered Data Dansala.

Dialog also conducted an AI Digital Vesak Greeting Card Competition from 21 May to 01 June 2026, attracting numerous entries from across the country. The shortlisted designs were showcased across 20 large LED screens throughout the venue and across Matara City, and were also made available for download via mobile devices. Further, through the use of AI, traditional Jathaka Katha were reimagined in a digital format, demonstrating how technology can be used to preserve and enhance cultural and religious heritage. Together, these initiatives blended traditional Vesak celebrations with emerging technologies, offering visitors a unique and immersive way to engage with Vesak traditions.

Extending the spirit of Vesak through connectivity, Dialog conducted a special Data Dansala powered by its QR Reload platform, enabling visitors to receive complimentary mobile data by scanning QR codes placed across the venue. In addition to the Matara National Vesak Zone, similar Data Dansala activations were also conducted at the Gangaramaya and Bauddhaloka Vesak zones in Colombo.Visitors also had the opportunity to create personalised Vesak-themed digital photos through an AI Photo Booth, generating AI-enhanced portraits using their own photographs and adding a contemporary digital element to the Vesak celebrations.

Visitors watch AI-generated Jathaka Katha

Commenting on the initiative, Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, said, “The 2026 Dakshina Prabha Vesak Festival marked the first time AI-powered digital innovations were incorporated into a National Vesak Festival in Sri Lanka. Presenting Buddhist stories and teachings through technology created a new and engaging way for visitors to connect with these traditions. We thank Dialog for supporting this initiative and for working closely with us to bring our vision to life. Their contribution played an important role in making this first-of-its-kind event a reality.”

Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC said, “We thank the Government of Sri Lanka for the opportunity to support the 2026 Dakshina Prabha National Vesak Festival and for embracing technology as part of this year’s celebrations. As the Official Digital Partner, we were privileged to contribute through our Dialog 5G Ultra and AI capabilities, creating new ways for visitors to engage with Vesak traditions while preserving their cultural significance for future generations.”

Beyond supporting the National Vesak Zone in Matara, Dialog also enhanced the Gangaramaya and Bauddhaloka Vesak zones through a range of digital activations during the Vesak season. The company additionally continued its sustainability initiatives, including the Thirasara Aloka Poojawa, which illuminated rural places of worship through solar-powered lighting solutions.

Features

Beauty, elegance and talent…for women

Published

4 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Universal Woman is an international pageant focused on “beauty, elegance, and talent” for women, positioning itself as a platform to shape global ambassadors. The 2026 edition will be held in Cambodia, and Sri Lanka will be there, as well.

According to reports coming my way, contestants, at the international event, will work with industry trailblazers, under international standards.

Sri Lankan supermodel, runway and pageant trainer Chulpadmendra Kumarapathirana, is the National Director for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026.

With over two decades in the industry, Chula was crowned Miss Sri Lanka 2006, and has since shaped the next generation of titleholders through her Colombo-based Chulpadmendra Catwalk Studio, widely regarded as one of the country’s leading modelling academies.

The team behind Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026

A former host of Derana Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World 2008 and a judge for Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2025, Chula now serves as National Director for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026, leading the franchise’s search for Sri Lanka’s delegate to the international final in Cambodia.

Applications for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026 are being taken, via WhatsApp: 077 659 4994, says Chula.

The judging panel for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026 includes Senaka De Silva, Pageant Aesthetic Advisor & Chairperson of the Judging Panel, Angela Seneviratne, Caroline Jurie, Rozelle Plunkett, and Suraj Mapa.

Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026 officially began its journey with a first round of auditions, held in Colombo, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in Sri Lanka’s pageant industry.

Launching the first round of auditions

The platform aims to empower women while selecting an intelligent, confident, and inspiring representative to compete at the Universal Woman International Pageant 2026 in Cambodia, this September.

Universal Woman Sri Lanka now moves forward with the vision of creating one of the country’s most prestigious and empowering pageants while preparing to crown a queen who will proudly represent Sri Lanka on the international stage.