Kulasinghe Reservoir, Moragahakanda

{{Use British English|date=January 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox dam | name = Moragahakanda Dam | name_official = මොරගහකන්ද අරමුන | image = Moragahakanda Dam.jpg | image_size = 260px | image_caption = Spillways of the Moragahakanda Dam. | image_alt = | location_map = Sri Lanka | location_map_size = 260px | location_map_caption = | location_map_alt = | coordinates = {{coord|07|41|56|N|80|46|12|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | country = [[Sri Lanka]] | location = Elahera, North Central Province | purpose = P | status = Operational | construction_began = {{Start date|df=yes|2007|01|25}} | opening = {{Start date|df=yes|2018|01|08}} | demolished = | cost = | owner = Mahaweli Authority | dam_type = G | dam_crosses = [[Amban River]] | dam_length = | dam_height_foundation= {{Convert|65|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | dam_height_thalweg = | dam_elevation_crest = | dam_width_crest = | dam_width_base = | dam_volume = | spillway_count = | spillway_type = | spillway_capacity = | res_name = Kulasinghe Reservoir <br> කුලසිංහ ජලාශය | res_capacity_total = | res_capacity_active = {{Convert|521000000|m3|ft3|abbr=on}} | res_capacity_inactive= | res_catchment = | res_surface = | res_max_length = | res_max_width = | res_max_depth = | res_elevation = {{Convert|185|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | res_tidal_range = | plant_name = | plant_coordinates = {{coord|07|41|59|N|80|46|11|E|type:landmark}} | plant_operator = Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka-MASL | plant_commission = | plant_decommission = | plant_type = | plant_turbines = | plant_capacity = {{Nowrap|25 [[Megawatt|MW]]}} | plant_annual_gen = | website = | extra = }}

The '''Moragahakanda Dam''' ({{langx|si|මොරගහකන්ද ව්‍යාපෘතිය}}), officially '''Kulasinghe Reservoir''',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2018/01/09/local/139369/president-proposes-name-moragahakanda-after-kulasinghe |title=President proposes to name Moragahakanda after Kulasinghe|work=Daily News|access-date=3 April 2018}}</ref> is a large [[gravity dam]], and the main component of the larger and more complex Moragahakanda — Kalu Ganga Project, across the [[Amban River]] at [[Elahera]], in the [[Matale District]] of [[Sri Lanka]]. Construction began on {{Nowrap|25 January 2007}} and was completed in 2018.<ref name=ITNnews.lk>{{cite news|title=Work on Moragahakanda Kalu Ganga Project progressing satisfactorily|url=http://www.itnnews.lk/?p=8859|access-date=14 January 2014|newspaper=[[Independent Television Network|ITN News]]|date=6 February 2013}}</ref> The maiden water release of the dam was in January 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://newsfirst.lk/english/2017/01/159421/159421|title=Happiest day - says the President as maiden waters of the Moragahakanda Reservoir flow - Sri Lanka News|date=11 January 2017|newspaper=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst {{!}} Breaking News and Latest News provider {{!}} Political {{!}} Sports {{!}} International {{!}} Business|language=en-US|access-date=22 January 2017|archive-date=26 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126052825/http://newsfirst.lk/english/2017/01/159421/159421|url-status=dead}}</ref> Morgahakanda/Kaluganga project is the last of the Great Mahaveli project<ref>{{cite news|title=New vistas in development|url=http://dailynews.lk/2016/07/25/features/88436}}</ref>

The larger combined project involves the construction of the Moragahakanda Dam and Reservoir, along with the separate [[Kalu Ganga Dam|Kalu Ganga Dam and Reservoir]], for [[irrigation]] and [[hydroelectricity|power generation]] purposes. Both these sites would be located approximately {{Convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} apart.<ref name=Treasury.gov.lk>{{cite web|title=Moragahakanda and Kaluganga Development Project|url=http://www.treasury.gov.lk/depts/npd/publications/projecpipeline-chap/Irrigation.pdf|publisher=[[Ministry of Finance and Planning (Sri Lanka)|Ministry of Finance and Planning]]|access-date=14 January 2014|page=2|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116084626/http://www.treasury.gov.lk/depts/npd/publications/projecpipeline-chap/Irrigation.pdf|archive-date=16 January 2014}}</ref>

The total development cost for both sites totals to approximately {{Nowrap|[[Sri Lankan rupees|Rs.]] 48.145 billion}} (approximately {{Nowrap|US$370 million}}) and is being carried out by [[SMEC Holdings]] and [[Sinohydro]].<ref name=SMEC>{{cite web|title=SMEC Wins Major Project with World's Largest Hydroelectric Company|url=http://www.smec.com/about-smec/media/smec-wins-major-project-with-world-s-largest-hydroelectric-company|publisher=[[SMEC Holdings]]|access-date=14 January 2014|date=23 October 2012|archive-date=16 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116141116/http://www.smec.com/about-smec/media/smec-wins-major-project-with-world-s-largest-hydroelectric-company|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=LankaNewspapers>{{cite news|title=Moragahakanda project on schedule|url=http://www.lankanewspapers.com/news/2014/1/86327.html|access-date=14 January 2014|newspaper=LankaNewspapers.com|date=8 January 2014}}</ref><ref name=DailyNews1>{{cite news|title=Moragahakanda multi purpose project construction on track|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2013/06/03/bus19.asp|access-date=14 January 2014|date=3 June 2013|author=Shirajiv Sirimane}}</ref>

A granite Buddha statue built opposite the Moragahakanda reservoir was unveiled on 23 July 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/180722/news/president-to-inaugurate-filling-of-kalu-ganga-reservoir-tomorrow-303547.html |title=President to inaugurate filling of Kalu Ganga reservoir tomorrow |publisher=The Sunday Times|access-date=3 April 2018}}</ref>

== History == The original Moragahakanda reservoir was first constructed by King [[Vasabha of Anuradhapura|Wasaba]] in 111 AD.<ref>{{cite news|title=Moragahakanda : Biggest yahapalana hybrid project|url=http://www.pmdnews.lk/moragahakanda-biggest-yahapalana-hybrid-project/|publisher=President's media division|date=20 February 2017|access-date=14 August 2017|archive-date=17 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170717234724/http://www.pmdnews.lk/moragahakanda-biggest-yahapalana-hybrid-project/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Mahaweli Development programme=== According to the [[Mahaweli Development programme|Mahaweli Master Plan]] of 1968, the development of Mahaweli was divided to three projects named A, B and C out of which the last 'C' project was the Moragahakanda Multi-Purpose Reservoir. In 1977 the project was modified and the Accelerated Mahaweli Scheme(AMS) started and was completed in 6 years. However Moragahakanda was not in the AMS. The J.R. Jayewardene Government would later secure funding for the project from Japan but communal violence delayed the project. The construction of the project commenced on 2007 under Mahinda Rajapakse Government and completed in 2018.<ref>{{cite web| url= https://www.dailynews.lk/2018/01/06/local/139119/moragahakanda-development-project-national-ceremony-january-8|title=Moragahakanda Development Project national ceremony on January 8}}</ref>

== Dam and reservoir == The Moragahakanda Dam, is a {{Convert|65|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} high [[gravity dam]]. The dam created the Moragahakanda Reservoir, which has an active storage capacity of {{Convert|521000000|m3|ft3|abbr=on}} of water,<ref name=SundayObserver1>{{cite news|title=Moragahakanda project will be completed ahead of schedule|url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2012/11/18/fea06.asp|access-date=14 January 2014|newspaper=[[Sunday Observer (Sri Lanka)|Sunday Observer]]|date=18 November 2012|author=Shirajiv Sirimane|archive-date=15 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140115132536/http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2012/11/18/fea06.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> at a surface elevation of {{Convert|185|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name=TheNation1>{{cite news|title=Moragahakanda and Kalu Ganga development projects, the last phase of the Accelerated Mahaweli Programme|url=http://www.nation.lk/2007/01/28/newsfe3.htm|access-date=15 January 2014|newspaper=[[The Nation (Sri Lanka)|The Nation]]|date=28 January 2007|author=Ravi Ladduwahetty}}</ref>

Two additional [[embankment dam|embankment]] [[saddle dam]]s will also be built to contain the Moragahakanda Reservoir. The reservoir of the [[Kalu Ganga Dam]] will be linked via tunnel.<ref name=ITNnews.lk /><ref name=TheNation1 />

== Primary uses == [[File:Moragahakanda reservoir at dam construction site.jpg|thumb|260px|left|Moragahakanda Reservoir in February 2017.]]

=== Irrigation === Water from both, the Moragahakanda and Kalu Ganga reservoirs, will be primarily used to support agricultural needs to an area of at least {{Convert|81422|ha|km2|1|abbr=on}}. This will increase [[rice]] production by 81% or {{Convert|109000|MT|lb|abbr=on}}, amounting to an estimated monetary benefit of {{Nowrap|[[United States dollar|US$]]1.67 million}}, annually.<ref name=SundayObserver1 />

=== Inland fishing === The reservoirs would also create a source of inland fishing, generating approximately {{Convert|4700|MT|lb|abbr=on}} or the monetary equivalent of {{Nowrap|US$1.67 million}}, annually.<ref name=SundayObserver1 />

=== Water supply === Along with the reservoir of the Kalu Ganga Dam, an increase of {{Convert|64000000|m3|ft3|abbr=on}} of [[drinking water|potable]] and industrial water supply could be ensured by 2032, to regions including [[Matale]], [[Anuradhapura]], [[Trincomalee]], and [[Polonnaruwa]].<ref name=SundayObserver1 />

=== Power generation === Water from the Moragahakanda Reservoir is used to power the {{Nowrap|25-[[megawatt]]}} Moragahakanda Hydroelectric Power Station. The substitution of this hydropower with traditional [[fossil fuel]] power generation is estimated to save up to {{Nowrap|US$ 2.49 billion}} annually.<ref name=SundayObserver1 /> *[This latter claim requires correction, as it is impossible to generate this much power from a 25-megawatt generator in one year. The maximum power possible from a 25-megawatt generator at .06 per kw (wholesale) is $13.14 million (US).]

Construction of the power station costs {{Nowrap|US$382 million}}, with an {{Nowrap|[[Economic Internal rate of return|EIRR]] (Economic Internal Rate of Return) of 22%}}.<ref name=TheNation1 />

== Roads and bridges == The construction of the dam and reservoir also required the construction of multiple access roads and rerouting of existing main roads, as well as the construction of the {{Convert|300|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} long Moragahakanda Bridge costing {{Nowrap|[[Sri Lankan rupee|Rs.]] 308 million}}.<ref name=Target.lk>{{cite web|title=President inspects progress of Moragahakanda - Kalu Ganga project|url=http://www.target.lk/article.php?article=759|publisher=Target.lk|access-date=14 January 2014}}</ref> {{Clear}}

==Rename== On 23 July 2018, under the patronage of president [[Maithreepala Sirisena]], the reservoir was officially named as Kulasinghe Reservoir, in memory of late Dr. [[A. N. S. Kulasinghe]]. Kulasinghe was a Sri Lankan civil engineer who served in several projects throughout the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2018/07/23/morgahakanda-reservoir-named-kulasinghe-reservoir/ |title=Morgahakanda Reservoir named "Kulasinghe Reservoir" |publisher=Newsfirst|access-date=23 July 2018}}</ref>

== See also == {{Commons category}} * [[List of dams and reservoirs in Sri Lanka]] * [[List of power stations in Sri Lanka]]

== References == {{Reflist|1}}

== External links == * {{cite news|title=Chinese firm gets $ 382 million Moragahaka|url=http://www.ft.lk/2012/06/09/chinese-firm-gets-382-million-moragahakanda-deal/|access-date=14 January 2014|newspaper=[[Daily FT]]|date=9 June 2012|author=Uditha Jayasinghe|archive-date=16 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116082733/http://www.ft.lk/2012/06/09/chinese-firm-gets-382-million-moragahakanda-deal/|url-status=dead}} * {{cite web|title=Background Information: Moragahakande & Kalu Ganga Sectors|url=http://2009.slwcs.org/projects/mg&kg/background.html|publisher=www.slwcs.org|access-date=14 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116070501/http://2009.slwcs.org/projects/mg%26kg/background.html|archive-date=16 January 2014|url-status=dead}}

[[Category:Dams in Sri Lanka|Moragahakanda]] [[Category:Gravity dams]] [[Category:Hydroelectric power stations in Sri Lanka]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Matale District]]