South Asia’s longest canal tunnel to be completed by 2026

Anuradhapura District Secretary Ranjith Wimalasuriya and his team inspecting work on the project

A group of officials, including the Anuradhapura District Secretary Ranjith Wimalasuriya, visited the Maha Ela project in the North Central Province on September 10.

A 96-km long irrigation canal is being constructed as part of the Maha Ela project. The tunnel aims to channel water from the Moragahakanda and Kaluganga reservoirs to the North Central Province.

Once the entire Maha Ela project, including the tunnel, is completed, it will provide drinking water to areas served by the Mahakanadarawa, Padaviya, Wahalkada, and 
Yan Oya reservoirs

Due to the hilly terrain in areas such as Palugaswewa and Mahameegaswewa, a section of the canal, spanning 28 kilometres, will be built through a tunnel. Once completed, this will be the longest canal tunnel in South Asia. The tunnel’s construction is expected to cost 49,000 million rupees.

Project Director, Engineer B.W.M.W. Seneviratne Banda, informed the District Secretary that approximately 39% of the tunnel’s construction work has been completed. The project, which commenced in 2021, is slated for completion in March 2026. Currently, two excavators are at work on the tunnel.

It is reported that around 64% of the tunnel will require concrete, which will be produced on-site. The project director noted that the project will minimise environmental damage and also provide valuable learning opportunities for university students.

Drinking water

Once the entire Maha Ela project, including the tunnel, is completed, it will provide drinking water to areas served by the Mahakanadarawa, Padaviya, Wahalkada, and Yan Oya reservoirs. Additionally, 1,505 small tanks will be fed by the project, and irrigation will be supplied to 3,000 hectares of land through the Ilukwewa, Ellepothana, and the proposed Brahmanayagama anicut across the Yan Oya.
Irrigation water will also be provided to areas benefiting from the Pavattakulam and Iranamadu reservoirs, as well as the proposed Kivul Oya reservoir. The freshwater fishing industry is expected to grow, and forest reserves will be established to mitigate human-elephant conflicts. The project will also support animal husbandry and foster potential for tourism.

Excavation

Excavation of approximately 3 kilometres from Koduruwawa towards Palugaswewa in the Alahera Divisional Secretariat has been completed. Additionally, 11 kilometres of the canal from Palugaswewa to Habarana has been completed. This project is anticipated to improve the living conditions of the people of Rajarata and promote overall prosperity, with agriculture flourishing in the area. 

Palugaswewa Divisional Secretary R.G.S.C.K. Wijeratne and Anuradhapura District Chief Engineer E.M.S.M.K. Ekanayake were among the officials present during the inspection tour.

(Dayaratne Embogama – Anuradhapura)