Mahaweli Scheme - Chronology of Important Events
Mahaweli Scheme – Chronology of Important Events
"575-608 A. C.
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K. Balasingham, a member of the Legislative Council proposed that waters of the Mahaweli be used for agriculture .
Mahaweli Ganga was harnessed for the first time in recent years by the restoration of the Minipe Anicut ."
1941, February 22
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D. S. Senanayake, Minister of Agriculture and Lands, State Council, officiated at the opening ceremony of the restored the Minipe Anicut
Dudley Senanayake Prime Minister; Sir John Kotelawela - Prime Minister
Irrigation Dept started collecting data and conducted preliminary surveys and investigations pertaining to the Mahaweli Ganga
S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike - Prime Minister, C. P. De Silva, Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Power
Robert Gunawardene raised the Mahaweli in Parliament. T. B. Tennekoon raised it at the Matale D.A.C
A Joint Team of the USOM and Irrigation Department commenced the study .
The Preliminary Report on the Development of the Mahaweli Ganga was published by the Irrigation Department in respect of their preliminary surveys and investigations conducted from 1952 onwards.
USOM/Irrigation Department published a report containing preliminary proposals for the development of the Mahaweli Ganga water resources.
The Sirima Bandaranaike government requested the United Nations Development Programme to carry out an independent study.
Dudley Senanayake - Prime Minister, C. P. De Silva , Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Power
1965-1968
UNDP/FAO team in association with the Irrigation Dept and other Depts carried out a comprehensive survey of the Mahaweli as a whole and published a Master Plan for the development of the Mahaweli Ganga in 1969.
1970 January 30
Agreement between the Government of Ceylon and International Development Association on the Mahaweli Ganga Development Project. Loan Amount - fourteen million five hundred thousand US dollars. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/199121468305332115/txt/Credit-0174-Ceylon-Mahaweli-Ganga-Development-Project-Credit-Agreement-1.txt
1970 February
Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake with the then Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Power, . C.P. de Silva, laid the foundation stone to commence Stage 1 of the project : the Polgolla Diversion.
1970 March
Ministry of Lands, Irrigation and Power awarded the contract for Stage 1 of the Scheme: the construction of the Polgolla Complex to M/S Ingra Zagreb of Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
1970 May
Mahaweli Development Board established by Act No. 14 of 1970 vide Gazette Extraordinary No, 14,904/1 B of 1970-05-03.
1970 May
Sirima Bandaranaike - Prime Minister, Maithripala Senanayake - Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Power
1972
Construction of Polgolla Barrage and Ukuwela Hydroelectric Power Station commenced.
1973 March
Construction of Bowatenne Dam and Hydroelectric Power Station commenced.
1976 February
Polgolla Barrage * and Ukuwela Hydroelectric Power Station completed
Barrage 14.6 m in height and 144 m in length
Storage Capacity: 4.1 MCM
Generating Capacity 18.3 MW X 2
Consultant, Mahaweli Development Board
Contractor Civil M/S Ingra Zagreb of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, State Engineering Corporation Electromechanical – Mitsubishi Hydro mechanical – Mitsubishi
*an artificial barrier across a river or estuary to prevent flooding, aid irrigation or navigation, or to generate electricity by tidal power.
1976
Construction of Bowatenna Dam completed.
Earth & concrete dam. 29 m in height & 226 m in length (crest).
Storage capacity: 52 MCM.
Consultant Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau
Contractors Civil – Ceylon Development Engineers, Electromechanical – Fuji Hydro mechanical – Fuji
1977 July
J. R. Jayawardena , Prime Minister, Gamini Dissanayake, Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Power
1977 October 12
Meeting held at the Mahaweli Development Board to discuss the Mahaweli Development Program with J. R. Jayawardena , Prime Minister in the chair, and senior Engineers and Administrators from the Irrigation Dept, MDB, RVDB, SEC, SD & CC, etc . It was decided to accelerate the Program by undertaking the construction of 5 major reservoirs referred to in the UNDP/FAO Master Plan simultaneously.
1977 November 29
Meeting with the World Bank President Mr. Robert S. McNamara on the Implementation of the Mahaweli Development Program. Mr. R. Coomaraswamy, Adviser to the Prime Minister on International Cooperation, Mr. Neville Kanakaratna, Ambassador, Mr. R. S. Cooke, Chairman, Mahaweli Development Board attended the meeting. A letter from the Prime Minister, Hon. J. R. Jayawardena, seeking assistance to accelerate the Program was presented. Mr. McNamara assured to assist in raising the additional external resources necessary.
1978 Aug 14
Construction work on the Maduru Oya Project – Jungle clearing and Laying of Foundation commenced under the River Valleys Development Board.
It was during the early jungle clearing operations that what appeared to be a part of an ancient structure came to light, and excavation by the Department of Archaeology revealed that it was the ancient Maduru Oya Anicut
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| Ancient Maduru Oya Anicut |
1978 September 7
Ministry of Mahaweli Development established.
1978 October 12-14
Visit of World Bank President, Mr. Robert McNamara
1979 February 4
His Excellency J. R. Jayawardena, the President, inaugurated construction work on the Kotmale Project.
1979 April
Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka established by Act No. 23 of 1979.
1980
Construction work on Ulhitiya Rathkinda Dam commenced.
1980 March
Construction of the Victoria Dam, Reservoir and Hydro electric Power Station commenced. Located near Teldeniya
1980 Apr 16
World Bank –IDA Loan signed.
1980 June 4
Mahaweli Settlement Division established
1980
Continuation of work on the Maduru Oya Dam under the Canadian Joint Venture FAFJ.
1981
Construction of Bowatenne Hydro Power Station completed.
Installed Capacity 40 M.W.
Consultant Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau
Contractors Civil – Ceylon Development Engineers Electromechanical – Fuji Hydro mechanical – Fuji
Executing Agency Ceylon Electricity Board
1981 October 24
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II visited the Victoria Dam Construction Site
Mahaweli Economic Agency (MEA) was established tobe responsible for downstream development and
settlement
1982
Construction of Randenigala Dam and Hydro electric Power Station commenced.
1983 March 20
Work on the Kotmale Mahaweli Maha Seya commenced. The stupa was to be built to commemorate over 50 submerged temples and the people who lost their properties as a consequence of the Mahaweli Development programme. The foundation stone was laid by President J. R. Jayewardene and the Minister of Mahaweli Development, Gamini Dissanayake, who originated the idea.
1983
Construction of Ulhitiya Rathkinda Dam completed.
25 M in height and 4960 M in length.
Storage Capacity - 145 MCM
Consultants - Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau
Contractor - River Valleys Development Board
1983 June
Construction of the Maduru Oya dam completed.
Rockfill dam with a centre core. 41 m in height & 1,090 m in length (crest).
Storage Capacity : 597 MCM.
Power Generation: 2.5 x 2MW
Consultants and Contractors
1. Crippen International Ltd Canadian Consultants
2. The Foundation Company of Canada Ltd., Atlas-Gest, International Ltd., Fitzpatrick Construction Ltd & Janin Construction Ltd., Joint Venture Dam Construction (FAFJ Joint Venture)
3. ACRES
Consultants (Maduru Oya Dam and System B)
4. SOGREAH
French Consultants (Maduru Oya Dam design)
5. Hydraulic Engineering Corporation of China (HECC) Manufacturer of all hydro-mechanical works
Local Consultants - Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau,
1983
Mahaweli Engineering and Construction Agency was established.
1984
Mahaweli Development Board wound up by Repeal Act, No. 38 of 1983 - wef 1 Jan. 1984
1984
Mahaweli Vansaya Vol. 1 published. Ministry of Mahaweli Development .332p
1985 February
Work on the Kotmale Dam and Power Station was completed. Ceremonially opened by President J. R. Jayewardene.
Rockfilled dam , 87m in height and 600m in length across the Kotmale Oya
Storage Capacity 172 MCM
Underground power station to which water is led through a seven kilometres long tunnel.
Generating Capacity
Consultants and Contractors
1. The Water and Power Development Consultancy Services (WAPCOS), Feasibility Studies
2. Sir William Halcrow and Partners; UK Consultancy Services
3. Kennedy & Donkin and Westbrook Mills, UK Consultancy Services
4. SKANSKA of Sweden Civil Engineering Works
5. ASEA of Sweden
Electro Mechanical Equipment
6. NEY/RPIC of France
Supplying of steel gates for the spillway
Local Consultants , Central Engineering and Consultancy Bureau
Commissioning took place in August 1985.
1985 April 12
The Victoria Dam was commissioned. Double Curvature Arch Concrete Dam, 122m in height 122m and 520m in length. Has eight spillway gates. Tallest Dam in SL.
Storage Capacity 722 MCM
Power Generation 3x70 MW
Consultants & Contractors
1. Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners
2. Preece Cardew & Rider
3. Hydraulic Research Station
4. Balfour Beatty Nuttal Joint (Comprising Balfour Beatty Construction Ltd. & Edmund Nuttal Ltd.)
Consulting Engineers in association with Specialised advice from Main civil contractors for Dam and Tunnel.
5. Costain International Ltd. Power Station.
6. Whessoe Boving Joint Venture (Comprising Whessoe Heavy Engineering Ltd., Boving & Co. Ltd.) Hydraulic Equipment
7. Balfour Kilpatrick Ltd.
Dam Electrical Distribution System
8. Boving & Co. Ltd.
Turbines and Associated plant
9. GEC Large Machines Ltd. Generators and Associated Plant
10. Hawker Siddeley Power Transformers Ltd. Transformers and Associated equipment.
11. NEI Reyrolle Ltd.
High Voltage Switchgear
12. BICC Supertension Cables Ltd High and Low Voltage Cables
13. GEC Electrical Projects Ltd. Station Miscellaneous Plant
14. Herbert Morris Ltd.
Cranes and Lifting Equipment
15. Eve Construction Ltd.
High Voltage Transmission Lines
Local Consultants - Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau
Mahaweli: A Moving Story", a booklet with photographs published by the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka to mark the ceremonial commissioning of the Victoria reservoir.
1986 March/August
Construction of the Randenigala Dam completed.
Ceremonially opened by President J. R. Jayawardena
Rockfill dam with a central rock impervious earth core. 94 m in height & 485 m in length (crest).
Storage Capacity: 861 MCM.
Generation Capacity: 63x2 MW.
Randenigala reservoir is the largest under the Mahaweli Scheme and serves as the base reservoir for water management in System ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’.
Consultants and Contractors
1. Joint-venture Randenigala Mills Salzgitter Agrarund Electrowatt Feasibility Studies
2. Kreditanstalt für Wideraufbau - 'KPW' Dam Construction
3. Joint Venture of M/s Dyckerheff and Widman, Bilfinger and berger and Alfred Kunz, of West Germany Joint Venture Randenigala Civil Contractors
4. Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nueraberg A.G. (M.A.N.) of West Germany Randenigala Hydromechanical Contractors
5. Brown Boveri and CIE Aktiengesellschaft (BBC) of West Germany Randenigala Electric Equipment Contractors
Local Consultants , Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau.
1987 January
Construction of Rantambe Dam commenced.
1990 February
Construction of Rantambe dam completed. Rantambe Power Complex commissioned in March & April. Generation electrical energy using the water releases from Randenigala reservoir and the natural flow of the Uma Oya.
Concrete-gravity dam 42 m in height and 420 m in length (crest).
Storage capacity: 22 MCM. Generating capacity: 25x2 MW.
Consultants Joint Venture Randenigala (JVR) , a consortium of three consultancy firms namely Salzgitter Consult GmbH. Agrar Und Hydrotechnik GmbH of the Federal Republic of Germany and Electrowatt Engineering Services Ltd., of Switzerland, in association with the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau
Contractor Civil – JV Rantembe Electromechanical – ABB Hydro mechanical – Sulzer Escher Wyss
2007 Jan 25
Construction of Moragahakanda Dam and Hydroelectric power station commenced.
2016 March 20
Work on the Kotmale Mahaweli Maha Seya completed and the stupa was opened by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe . Its completion was delayed for over 10 years due to funding issues , which were resolved after the intervention of President, Madam Chandrika Bandaranaike.The stupa is 88 m (289 ft) tall, making it the second-largest stupa in Sri Lanka, second to Ruwanweli Maha Seya in Anuradhapura by King Dutugemuilt in 140 BC. Its structure was designed by Vidya-Jyothi Dr. A.N.S. Kulasinghe.
2018 January
Construction of Moragahakanda Dam completed
Earth core rock fill. Dam 59 m in height & 471 m in length (crest).
Gross storage capacity: 558 MCM.
Generating capacity: (2x7.5) + (2x5) MW.
Consultants Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau
Contractor Sinohydro Corporation of China
Sources:
Water Resources of Ceylon - S. Arumugam 1969 The Truth About the Mahaweli - G. Iriyagolla C. C. S.
Mahaweli Statistical Year Book, 2022
Engr. M. C. M. Navaratna – Overview of Mahaweli Program to Enhance Water Security
Engr. S. R. K. Aruppola – Operation And Maintenance of Dams, Reservoirs in the Mahaweli Cascade
And others
Engr. D.C.S. Elakanda - Safety of Water Infrastructure
https://www.mahawelicomplex.lk/login/index.php (Power Stations)
Siriwardena, S.S.A.L. 1989.- From planned intervention to negotiated development: the struggle of bureaucrats, farmers and traders in the Mahaweli scheme in Sri Lanka, Dissertation Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands.
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