'The Uma Oya Project, once completed, will enable the people of Wellassa who had been deprived of irrigation facilities to cultivate their land. More than 500,000 people of the Uva, Southern and Central Provinces will receive water and electricity facilities consequently.'_______________________
(April 29, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,today participated at the launch of work on modernizing the Sapugaskanda Petroleum Refinery which is estimated to cost US$ 750 million., while the Iranian Minister of Trade participated in the ceremony to launch the Uma Oya Multi-Purpose Scheme. Both projects are being funded by Iran.
"With the expansion of the Sapugaskanda Petroleum Refinery, Sri Lanka will be able to increase its output from the present 50,000 barrels to over 100,000 barrels of oil," stated the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Duminda Dissanayake.
This refinery, once completed will allow the consumer to purchase gas at a lower price. Pointing out that it had been 47 years the refinery was commissioned, Minister Dissanayake stated that this project to modernize the Sapugaskanda Petroleum Refinery will benefit all Sri Lankans.
Meanwhile Minister of Irrigation, Chamal Rajapaksa and Iranian Minister of Trade participated at the launch of work on the Uma Oya Multipurpose Scheme, to be constructed at a colossal sum of 45 billion rupees provided by Iran.The Uma Oya Project, once completed, will enable the people of Wellassa who had been deprived of irrigation facilities to cultivate their land. More than 500,000 people of the Uva, Southern and Central Provinces will receive water and electricity facilities consequently.
The Electricity Board has estimated the annual value of power to be generated by the project to be around five billion rupees. Thousands of jobs will be generated.
The Uma Oya Scheme was planned under the 1968 Mahaweli Project and although a feasibility report was finalised in 1988 the project was never implemented. The people continued to be hindered by lack of water and power. It was in this context that the Sri Lankan government sought the support of the Iran to launch the project.
During President Rajapaksa's recent visit to Iran, President Mohamed Ahamadanijad consented to granting 45 billion rupees to launch this Multipurpose Scheme. This is a priceless gift given by Iran to Sri Lanka, Minister Fowzie said.
Two dams will come up across Uma Oya for the diversion of water. The larger dam, 390 metres long, with a height of 92 metres, will be constructed at Puhulpola.
The second dam will come up across the Maha Thotilla Oya, which is a subsidiary of Uma Oya. Its reservoir which will be used to retain the water. These reservoirs will provide water sufficient for 20,000 acres when completed .
The water from these two reservoirs will be diverted to an underground hydropower plant to be built near the Rawana Ella waterfall through a 19-kilometre long tunnel with a diameter of 3.5 metres. A total of 300 Gigawatts of power is expected to be generated annually, thereby resolving the longstanding problems of the people of the Southern and Uva Proivinces.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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