Have we tapped full hydro-electricity potential in country?

The regular and uninterrupted supply of electricity to the country is becoming a problem because of the difficulty in obtaining fuel due to the foreign exchange problems the country is facing.

Under the circumstances, it is pertinent to ask if the full hydro-electricity potential of the country has been tapped.

Let’s look at a few possibilities: Watawala: If we take the Watawala, Ginigathena and Ambagamuwa triangle, it receives the highest rainfall in the country. There is a tributary of the Mahaweli flowing past the three locations. The distance from Ambagamuwa and Watawala is about four miles, but the difference in elevation is about 1,500 feet, the elevation at Watawala being 3,500 feet and the elevation at Ambagamuwa being 2,000 feet. Cannot this difference in elevation be tapped to produce a substantial quantity of electricity?

Lewella in Kandy: The Mahaweli forms a loop around Kandy. One end of the loop is Peradeniya, the other end is Lewella. The distance between the two points is about five miles but the difference in elevation is about 200 feet. Taking into consideration, the large volume of water of the river at Peradeniya, cannot this difference in elevation be harnessed to generate a substantial quantity of electricity?

Elpitiya: The elevation of Elpitiya is not availabe to me. But the map indicates the possibility of a viable hydro-electricity project. If successful it could also control floods on the lower reaches of the Gin Ganga.

If one or more of these locations shows the potential for a commercially viable project for hydro-electricity, it could not only provide an uninterrupted supply of electricity to the public but also save much needed foreign exchange for the country.

Wickramasinghe Kaduwela