System
C is located on the Right bank of the Mahaweli Ganga, from the Minipe
diversion structure to the confluence of the Maduru Oya. It embraces
the upper portion of the irrigable area of the right bank in the central
reaches of the Mahaweli and a smaller part of the left bank area of
the Maduru Oya. A trans-basin canal from the Minipe anicut supplies
the area with required irrigation water. The topography of the land
is rather undulating and it is cut by Badulu, Loggal, Hepplola and
Ulhitiya Oya, which are the four major tributaries of the Mahaweli
on the right bank below Minipe. The total area under the system comprises
76,900 acres (in1967 sources) including 3,300 irrigated areas.
The system
is surrounding Mahiyangana, the ancient city of religious significance
are Mapakada Wewa, Dambara Wewa and Sorobora Wewa, the three irrigation
schemes which at present supply water to 3,300 acres of land. This
system ensures two crops per year. (in 1968 report)
System
C was subdivided into 6 Zones. Zone 2 on the left bank was served
by a 10 km long main canal providing irrigation water. Zone 1 is above
the command of the Ulhitiya reservoir and the lands developed are
under the command of the Mapakada, Dambarawa and Horabora reservoirs.
Since the catchments areas of these small tanks are cut-off by the
trans basin canal, water supplies are issued from the transbasin canal.
The main canal serving Zone 2 and its tertiary canal system were constructed
by medium and small scale contractors.
The rest
of the 4 Zones of the right bank are served by the 17 km long main
canal. (Funded by the Japanese Government) Over 90% of the development
costs of system C were financed by many donor agencies. The Trans
basin Canal and System C was commissioned in April 1983.