1. What hurts the most!!
Pertaining to the construction carried out
for the multipurpose project, villagers of
several villages in the area are suffering
severe life threatening consequences.
One of which, perhaps the most severe
being the impact it has on the water
resources within the area.
The wells within the area are subjected
to drying up limiting the water available
for the residents of the area.
Drying springs have forced agriculture
and cultivation in the area to a halt.
Majority of the residents in the area are
farming families and are hopeless of the
future of their livelihood.
Contamination of well water, posing threat
to those who consume it.
Mahaweli River, one of the largest
suppliers of water for cultivators in the
surrounding areas is facing threat of
being deprived of water, making life even
harder for the villagers.
Uma Oya
Multipurpose
Development
Project

2. UMA OYA MULTIPURPOSE
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
Launched in 2012 and is conducted under
the Ministry of Irrigation & Water
Resources Management. Considering an
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Report which was prepared insufficiently,
Central Environmental Authority which
has acted as the Project Approving
Agency for this project had granted
Environmental Clearance for this project.
The project has an estimated cost of
Rs.76,316 million. Through involvement of
the Government of Iran Export
Development Bank of Iran granted
Rs.51,175million without any consideration
for the feasibility of the project. For the
other costs Rs.15,474million will be
provided by the government.
PROJECT INCLUDES,
 Construction of two reservoirs,
Handapanagala and Lunugamwehera
 Construction of two dams across at
Welimada and Dyraaba
 Construction of a tunnel with an
underground power station at
Randeniya.
 Construction of a tunnel Puhulpola and
Dyraaba reservoirs
 Construction of 100 m high surge and
700 m high vertical shafts.
 Construction of 3,335 m long tailrace
tunnel.
AT THE EXPENSE OF………
 Wells and springs in the area
drying up
 Unable to cultivate paddy and
vegetable in the area
 Residents being displaced due to
constructions
 Walls and floor of buildings being
cracked and is at the verge of
collapse
 Landslides are being observed in
the areas selected to construct
the reservoirs due to the
existence of a thin layer of soil.