{{short description|Major stream in the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka}} {{Notconfuse|Mahaoya}} {{Infobox river | name = Maha Oya | name_native = | name_native_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology = | image = Maha Oya,Crossing Kotadeniyawa Road,Srilanka.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = Maha Oya,Crossing Kotadeniyawa Road,Sri Lanka. | image_alt = | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | map_alt = | pushpin_map = Sri Lanka | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= | pushpin_map_alt = | subdivision_type1 = | subdivision_name1 = | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = | subdivision_name5 = | length = {{Convert|134|km|mi|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max = | source1 = | source1_location = Nawalapitiya, Aranayake | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = | mouth = | mouth_location = Kochchikade, Negombo | mouth_coordinates = {{Coord|07|16|21|N|79|50|34|E|display=inline,title|region:LK_type:river}} | mouth_elevation = Sea level | progression = | river_system = | basin_size = | basin_landmarks = | basin_population = | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = | waterbodies = | waterfalls =Asupini Ella | bridges = Mawanella Bridge | ports = | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }}
The '''Maha Oya''' ({{langx|si|මහ ඔය}}, {{lit|Great River}}) is a major watercourse in the Sabaragamuwa Province of Sri Lanka. It measures approximately {{Convert|134|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} in length.<ref>{{cite book | title=Economic Incentives for Marine and Coastal Conservation: Prospects, Challenges and Policy Implications | publisher=Routledge | author=Yassin Mohammed, Essam | year=2013 | pages=296 | isbn=978-1-135-00663-1}}</ref> It runs across four provinces and five districts. The Maha Oya has 14 water supply networks to serve the need of water and more than 1 million people live by the river.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2016/07/10/maha-oya-sand-mining-to-affect-millions/ | title=Maha Oya Sand Mining To Affect Millions | accessdate=17 October 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720213312/http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2016/07/10/maha-oya-sand-mining-to-affect-millions/ | archive-date=20 July 2016 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
thumb|Maha Oya passes Pinnawala elephant orphanage area Its catchment area receives approximately 3,644 million cubic metres of rain per year, and approximately 34 percent of the water reaches the sea. It has a catchment area of 1,510 square kilometres.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/T0028E/T0028E02.htm | title=Sri Lanka: Rivers | publisher=FAO | accessdate=12 October 2016}}</ref>
== See also == * List of dams and reservoirs in Sri Lanka * List of rivers of Sri Lanka * Maha Oya Pumped Storage Power Station
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Inland waters of Sri Lanka|state=collapsed}}
Category:Rivers of Sri Lanka
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