The Mahaweli Development Programme

The Mahaweli Development Programme is based on the Master Plan prepared jointly by UNDP/FAO Team and Sri Lankan Engineers in 1965/68. The Plan, which envisaged development of above 365,000 ha. of irrigable land in the Dry Zone as well as about 508 MW of hydropower, was divided into 3 phases, each including several projects for stepwise implementation over a period of 30-year period. Implementation of the plan began in 1970. Late in 1977 the Government was decided to accelerate the programme. The programme selected five major projects comprising five dams and hydropower plants with a total potential power capacity of 200-600 MW and downstream development of about 112,000 in System B, C, H and G. Management of Udawalawe and system L projects were also handed over to the MASL in 1982 and 1987 respectively.

Rs.89.01 billion (at current prices) has been invested on the Mahaweli Programme from 1970 to 2005. A bulk (54%) of the substantial investment was directed towards the completion of four large reservoirs with power houses along with the trans-basin irrigation diversion systems. The balance was utilized for the establishment of associated downstream development.

By the end 2006, the project was able to open up 93,000 ha of irrigable lands, constructing of 9,478 km of canal networks. Over 147,000 families were settled. 23 new towns and 305 new hamlets were established. 2,756 km of new roads were added to the national road network

The estimated cumulative project benefits at the end of 2006, in terms of value of food and power generation at current prices, exceeded Rs.323 billion. An agricultural benefit along accounted for Rs.172 billion and the balance was from hydropower.

This Statistical Hand Book presents achievements of the Mahaweli Development Programme in details up to 2006.