President inspects Uma Oya project

Construction of the main tunnel of the Uma Oya multi-purpose reservoir project started under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday.

The project will benefit farmers in the Moneragala, Badulla and Ampara districts and will provide irrigation facilities as well as generate electricity.

The President also made an inspection tour to the Uma Oya multi-purpose project which includes construction of two rolling compact concrete dams, an underground hydro power plant with 134 MW capacity and about 25 Km underground tunnel.

In 2008, President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad started construction of the project which includes the construction of two reservoirs on tributaries of the Uma Oya River and one tunnel on the river. When the project is complete, it will have the capacity to irrigate 5,000 hectares of agricultural lands. The project is estimated Rs. 6121 million .

The government of Iran is funding the project with US 450 million abd while Sri Lanka will bear the rest of Rs. 15,220 million for the total roject.

Ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, Jagath Pushpakumara, Uva Chief Minister Sashendra Rajapaksa, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga, Uma Oya Project Director Dr. Sunil De Silva and the Iranian Ambassador were also present.