Power struggle: Villages split over planned mini hydro project in Kotmale

A proposed mini hydro plant has stirred a rift between two villages in Kotmale. People in Kirindiwela fear it will devastate the precious Wewahena Ella waterfall and local biodiversity

A proposed mini hydro plant has stirred a rift between two villages in Kotmale, each with a contrasting vision for their future. Kadadorapitiya sees the Kumbaloluwa-Pundaluoya project as a path to jobs and development, while Kirindiwela fears it will devastate the precious Wewahena Ella waterfall and local biodiversity. Can Kotmale find a balance, or will this project tip the scales between progress and preservation?

Letter written by Rivinmo Hydro (PVT) Ltd to the Divisional Secretariat Kotmale seeking a no-objection letter to plan mini-hydro power project 

Mini hydro power plants are popular green energy solutions, especially in areas with small running water resources. These plants provide clean electricity, create jobs, and reduce fossil fuel use. However, in the Kotmale area, residents of Kadadorapitiya and Kirindiwela are divided over a proposed plant, with some concerned about its environmental impact and others hopeful for economic benefits.

A media team and officials from the Centre for Environmental Justice (CEJ) recently visited the Kotmale villages to report on the dispute.

“In 2016, the Central Environment Authority (CEA) requested that Wewahena Ella and Egodawela Ella be declared sensitive zones,”

- Kotmale Sumedhananda Thera, President of the Pundaluoya Rescue Organization

They accompanied villagers, including the President of the Pundaluoya Rescue Organization, Kotmale Sumedhananda Thera, to the Wewahena Ella waterfall, where the plant is planned. Some villagers warned that the project would harm local biodiversity, while supporters argued it would create jobs.

The proposed project, known as the Kumbaloluwa-Pundaluoya Mini Hydro Power Project, is led by Rivinmo Hydro (PVT) Ltd, which operates under its Chairman Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda. The Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority provisionally approved the project in May 2016, with plans to generate 4,960kW of electricity. Sumedhananda Thera noted that Kadadorapitiya residents protested the project in 2016 and 2017, citing environmental concerns.

Rivinmo Hydro (PVT) Ltd maintains that the project will benefit local villages because there are plans to improve roads and create jobs, but concerns remain, especially in Kirindiwela.

“In 2016, the Central Environment Authority (CEA) requested that Wewahena Ella and Egodawela Ella be declared sensitive zones,” said Sumedhananda Thera, adding that the waterfalls and ponds are rich in biodiversity and should be preserved.

Following their review, the CEA denied environmental approval, noting the project’s impact on Egodawela Ella would persist despite modifications.

Residents said the path had been closed by the company which is working on the plant.

Supporters of the project videoed the visit, and some reportedly issued threats. Sumedhananda Thera stated that he had received calls pressuring him to end the protest and was even offered one million rupees in support of his temple. As the media team was leaving, two men who claimed to represent the project approached, wanting to share their perspective.

They explained that 500 acres, including 300 around Wewahena Ella and 200 of abandoned paddy fields, had been acquired for the project.

“Ninety percent of the water from Wewahena Ella will be diverted for electricity, with ten percent left for the waterfall,” said one representative, adding that the water would return to the stream post-generation.

Around 95 families in Kadadorapitiya reportedly support the project due to the jobs it would bring during the five-year construction period and the prospect of at least ten permanent jobs upon completion.

However, the division between Kadadorapitiya and Kirindiwela remains deep—some prioritize preserving Wewahena Ella’s natural beauty and biodiversity, while others look forward to the economic opportunities the plant could bring.

Sumedhananda Thera and Kirindiwela residents have appealed to higher authorities, including the President, to protect the waterfall, while Kadadorapitiya villagers remain optimistic about the project’s potential for job creation.