The happiest day in my life was January 8, 2018. Together with many of my villagers, family members and other visitors I was a witness to the releasing of water from the gigantic Moragahakanda Reservoir.
It was commissioned by His Excellency the President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena, along with Prime Minister Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe and the Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka while the Maha Sangha chanted seth pirith. "Today is the day of fulfilling the promise that I made to the nation 10 years ago," said the President.
The event was thrilling, fantastic and colourful.
This gigantic hydropower project was built after blocking the Amban Ganga and Kalu Ganga in the
Matale district. The Amban Ganga gets Mahaweli water via Ukuwela and Bowatenna after generating power to the national grid.
The Kalu Ganga starts from the Knuckles mountain range and flows via Riversturn Estate and Laggala Pallegama Divisional Secretary's area.
When this project commenced in January 2007, I was a little girl of four. I remember my father carrying me on his shoulders to show me the historical event of the laying of the foundation stone at this site. After ten years, today, I can see a large and huge reservoir.
According to historical evidence, this is the major tank constructed after the great King Parakramabahu built the Parakrama Samudraya. This is the only reservoir which has three dams. Sri Lankan engineers with local technology constructed the first dam with soil, close to eacher other. The second dam was constructed with granite, rubble and mud soil and the third one was constructed by the China Power Company 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 five gates to release water when necessary. Four of these gates are connected to the 25 MW power stations to work its turbines to generate hydro power electricity to the national grid. The power station is also situated close to the dams.
A few weeks ago, I got the opportunity to go to the dam site with my parents and some of my relations to see the progress and the trial run of turbines and the sluice gates. It was marvellous.
The nation must bow down and thank the villagers of Moragahakanda and Laggala Pallegama areas as they have sacrificed their houses and valuable properties for the sake of the country and its people.
The Government has given land to these people in Medirigiriya with all facilities and I understand that they now live happily in their new homes.
Wenuki Sandithya Alawatte,
Grade 8,
Kekirawa Central College,
Kekirawa.