Excavation Of South Asia’s Longest Irrigation Tunnel To Be Completed Today

COLOMBO (News 1st): The excavation of the North Central Province Main Canal irrigation tunnel will be completed today.

It is considered the longest irrigation tunnel in South Asia.

The cost incurred for excavating the 27.7-kilometer-long tunnel from Konduruwawa to Palugaswewa is 60 billion rupees.

Two tunnel boring machines imported from Germany were used to excavate this tunnel, which is part of the North Central Canal project that transports water from the Moragahakanda Reservoir through Yakalla in Anuradhapura to the Hurulu Wewa.

N.U.K. Ranatunga, Director of the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Program, stated that the North Central Main Canal, which includes this 8-meter diameter irrigation tunnel, will be able to meet the water requirements of the North Central and Northern provinces.