All arrangements have been finalised to launch work on the Uma Oya Multipurpose Scheme, expending a colossal sum of 45 billion rupees.

Work on this Multipurpose Scheme  will get underway on Tuesday. It will strengthen the economy of the Wellassa people cultivating the Uva and the South. Minister Chamal Rajapakse said this project is another notable feature of the Mahinda Chintana policy.

The work will be launched with the participation of President Rajapakse and his Iranian counterpart Mohamed Ahamedenijad. Minister Rajapakse said the launching of the Uma Oya project will take place at Kirindi Oya in Wellawaya. 

Uma Oya will enable the people of Wellassa who had been deprived of irrigation facilities to cultivate their land. More than 500,000 people of the Uva, Southern and Central Provinces will receive water and electricity facilities. The Electricity Board has estimated the annual value of power to be generated by the project at five billion rupees. Thousands of jobs will be generated, making the dream of the youth a reality. Uma Oya was planned under the 1968 Mahaweli Project. However, its work was not undertaken. A feasibility report was finalised in 1988 for its implementation. 

This also did not succeed. The people continued to be hindered by lack of water and power. The Sri Lankan government sought the support of the Iran to launch the project. As a result of a tour of President Rajapakse of Iran, President Mohamed Ahamadanijad consented to granting 45 billion rupees to launch this Multipurpose Scheme. This is a priceless gift given by Iran to Sri Lanka. It is not a victory only of the government but of the entire nation. Two Dams will come up across Uma Oya for the diversion of water.

The largest dam, 390 metres long and with a height of 92 metres, will be constructed at Puhulpola. It will only be second to the Victoria and Randenigala dams.   The water will be gathered in a reservoir, which will have a capacity of 125 acres. The second dam will come up across the Maha Thotilla Oya, which is a subsidiary of Uma Oya.  Its reservoir, which will have 6.5 acres will retain the water. The water from these two reservoirs will be diverted to the underground hydropower plant to be built near the Rawana Ella through a 19-kilometre long tunnel with a diameter of 3.5 metres.

300 Gigawatts of power is scheduled to be generated annually, thereby resolving the longstanding problems of the people of the South and the Uva.

(Courtesy : ITN Sri Lanka )