(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – The inauguration of the Diaraba Reservoir built under the Uma Oya Multi-Purpose Project and of water release to the Diaraba reservoir from the Puhulpola Reservoir took place today under the patronage of Minister of Irrigation and Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Roshan Ranasinghe.
Diyaraba Reservoir opened as the first phase of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project and water is directed from Puhulpola Reservoir, which is the main reservoir of this project, to Diyaraba Reservoir through a tunnel.
Four reservoirs- Alikota Ara reservoir, Diaraba reservoir, Puhulpola reservoir and Handapanagala reservoir, were constructed under the mega project to divert 145 million cubic meters of water from the Uma Oya Basin, without impacting its environmental and other water needs to the Kirindi Oya Basin in the water-scarce Southern Zone.
The water from these reservoirs is used for irrigation of 50,000 acres of dry land and is also used to meet drinking water needs of Greater Bandarawela area.
Alikotaara and Kuda Oya reservoirs are also used to provide water for agricultural purposes. Here, the water capacity of the Hadapanagala reservoir will be increased by the Kuda Oya Reservoir.
The Uma Oya Multipurpose Development Project will also generate 120 Megawatt of electricity and the electricity generated at Uma Oya will be transmitted through a transmission line to Badulla, where it will be added to the national grid.
This project was initiated in the year 2008 by the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with funds from the Iranian government and during the time of the former President Maithripala Sirisena, many activities of the multi-purpose project were carried out.
During the time of the former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the work continued and the current President Ranil Wickramasinghe, had to face many challenges to carry out the Uma Oya multi-purpose project due to the financial issues and was able to resolve those financial issues with the support of the cabinet.
Iran’s Teheran-based Farab Co. was the EPC Contractor of the Uma Oya Multipurpose Project with a total cost of US $ 514.5 million (Rs.15,474 million), 85% of which was provided by the Government of Iran..
For this occasion, Ambassador of Iran to Sri Lanka Hashem Ashjazadeh the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Civil Aviation Nimal Siripala de Silva, Minister of Irrigation Roshan Ranasinghe, State Minister of Irrigation Shasheendra Rajapaksa, State Minister of Primary Industries Chamara Sampath Dasanayake Secretary of the Ministry of Irrigation, Mr. U.D.C.Jayalal, Managing Director of Farab Institute, Dr. Ali Wakili, Project Director of Uma Oya Multipurpose Project, Eng. Alakanda and the public representatives and general public participated in the event.
