Udawalawe Reservoir and the Dam (උඩවලවේ ජලාශය සහ වේල්ල)

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The Udawalawe Reservoir, located in the Ratnapura District and Hambantota District, is one of the largest reservoirs constructed after Ceylon gained independence. The Chandrikawewa project was the initial phase in an effort to irrigate a significant portion of the Walawe Ganga basin, starting with 5,000 acres. The Udawalawe project followed, aiming to bring 50,000 acres under cultivation. The Samanala Wewa project, situated closer to the source of the Walawe Ganga, represents the third phase of the initiative and was expected to irrigate 40,000 acres (Amunugama, 1965, p. 133).

Being part of the Udawalawe National Park, this reservoir attracts various wildlife including herds of elephants at all times of the day.

Built in 1963, this reservoir is currently the third largest reservoir in the Walawe Ganga (called Vana Nadi during ancient times) River. It supplies water to the Udawalawe, Embilipitiya, and Hambantota areas, and the establishment of settlements in these regions occurred with the construction of the Udawalawe Reservoir. Primarily providing water for rice cultivation and banana farming, the reservoir also houses two power plants that contribute to the national electricity supply. The Udawalawe Reservoir was constructed by damming the Walawe River, one of Sri Lanka’s major rivers. The Udawalawe National Park, the National Elephant Orphanage, and the Sankhapala Raja Maha Vihara are located nearby.

The river is contained by a 4.5 km long and 40-meter-high earthen embankment, creating a reservoir that holds 268 million cubic meters of water. Irrigation water is distributed through left and right bank sluices, which also generate hydropower, while excess floodwater is released through five radial gates and a 380-meter-wide natural spillway. (Silva et al., 2014)

Five radial gates form the spill along with a natural spill. The reservoir covers 8400 acres (34 km² ) of land (Arumugam, 1969).

References

Amunugama, S. (1965). Chandrikawewa: a Recent Attempt at Colonization on a Peasant Framework. The Ceylon Journal of Historical and Social Studies, 8 (1 & 2-Double Issue January-December 1965).
Arumugam, S. (1969). Water resources of Ceylon: its utilisation and development. Water Resources Board (Sri Lanka).
Silva, E. I. L., Manthrithilake, H., Pitigala, D., & Etige, N. (2014). Environmental Flow in Sri Lanka: Ancient Anicuts Versus Modern Dams. Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences, 19, 3–14.

Also See

Map of the Udawalawe Reservoir

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)

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The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

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Travelling Directions to Udawalawe Reservoir

Route from Colombo to Udawalawe Reservoir

Through : Southern Expressway
Distance : 240 km
Travel time : 3.30 Hours
Driving directions : see on Google map

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Mulativu Wediwettukallu Amuna Archaeological Ruins
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Bathalagoda Wewa Reservoir in Kurunegala (කුරුනෑගල බතලගොඩ වැව)
According to Hendry Parker, the Bathalagoda Wewa was built in pre Christian times for the water supply of an ancient city which for many centuries has been merely referred to as ‘Parana Nuwara’ since its original name was never known. […]
Panda Wewa – The First man made Reservoir in the World (ලොව මුල්ම අංග සම්පුර්ණ වැව වන පඬාවැව සහ එහි නටබුණ්)
Panda wewa, lying close to the ancient kingdom of Panduwasnuwara is believed to be the oldest man made reservior in the world built by King Panduwasdeva (504-474 BC) in 450 BC for irrigation as well as for daily use by the citizens of Panduwasnuwara. […]
Yoda Wewa at Tissamaharama (තිස්සමහාරාම යෝධ වැව)
It is believed that this tank was built by King Mahanaga in the late 3rd Century BC and the Duratissa Wewa mentioned in the ancient texts is the current Yodha Wewa in Tissamaharama. […]
Tissamaharama Tissa Wewa: The First Oblique Dam in the World (තිස්සමහාරාම තිස්ස වැව)
The Tissa Wewa is one of the largest ancient irrigation tanks constructed the 3rd Century is considered the first Oblique Dam in the world […]

References

Also See

Map of the Udawalawe Reservoir

Travelling Directions to Udawalawe Reservoir

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