Tunnel boring machine unveiled for Upper Elahera Canal project

COLOMBO (News 1st); A giant tunnel boring machine to be used in the Upper Elahera Canal project, which was manufactured in China for Sri Lanka was unveiled on Thursday (06).

The giant tunnel boring machine has been manufactured by China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Corporation in Hunan Province.

Xinhua news agency reported that the machine has a diameter of 7.6 meters and would be used in the longest hard rock tunneling project in Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, the Upper Elahera Canal project will take place under two phases.

The first phase of the project would see a tunnel running between the Kalu River and the Moragahakanda Reservoir, while the second phase would see the tunnel extending from the Moragahakanda reservoir to Yakalla.

The Mahaweli Authority stated that the length of the tunnel would be 28 kilometers, and water will be distributed from Yakalla through three canals.

However, SJB MP Patali Champika Ranawaka speaking on the giant tunnel boring machine alleged that the authorities are trying to engage in fraud by trying to expedite the Central Canal project.

Speaking further, he stated that the irrigation department's engineers have joined hands with the Ministry Secretary and are trying to commit a fraud of 35 million US dollars through this tunnel project.