An unforgettable moment as Moragahakanda Dam gushes forth
Last Monday (Jan.8) was the happiest day in my life. The event was thrilling, fantastic and colourful. Many of our villagers, my family members and visitors really enjoyed the event.
On that day, releasing the waters of the gigantic Moragahakanda Development Dam, close to my home, took place at an auspicious time, while the Maha Sangha chanted Seth Pirith.
It was commissioned by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena, along with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka.
This gigantic hydropower project was built across the Ambanganga and Kaluganga of Matale district. Ambanganga gets Mahaweli water via Ukuwela and Bowatenna, after generating power to the National grid. Kaluganga starts from the Knuckles Mountain Range and flows via Riverseturn Estate and Laggala Pallegama Divisional Secretary’s divisional area Estate, as I understand. When this project was commenced in January 2007, I was a little girl aged 4 years. I still remember my father carrying me on his shoulders to show me the historical event of laying the foundation at this site. After 10 years, today, I can see a huge reservoir.
According to historical evidence, this is a major tank constructed after the great King Parakramabahu. This is the only reservoir having 3 Dams at the same location. Sri Lankan engineers using local technology, constructed the 1st Dam with soil, the 2nd Dam was constructed with granite, rubble and mud soil, and the 3rd Dam was constructed by the China Power Co. of the People’s Republic of China.
The total length of the concrete dam is about 1,554 feet. It can store 400,500 cubic hectares of water at a time. This reservoir has 5 gates to release water when necessary. Four of these gates are connected to the 25 MW power stations to work its turbines to generate hydropower electricity for the National grid. The Power station is also situated adjoining the Dam.
“Today is the day of fulfilling the promise that His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka made to the nation 10 years ago,” the President said.
Recently, I got an opportunity to go to the Dam site with my parents and some of my relatives to see the progress and the test running of the turbines, and the gates of the Dam. It was marvellous.
The Nation must bow down and thank the innocent villagers of Moragahakanda and Laggala Pallegama area, as they have sacrificed all their houses, land and valuable properties for the sake of the country and its people. The Government has given land in the Medirigiriya area with all the facilities to these displaced vilagers, and now they are living happily in that area, I heard.