Description

The Mahaweli Dam, more accurately referred to as the Victoria Dam, is the largest dam in Sri Lanka and a central component of the Mahaweli Development Program. Located near Teldeniya in the Central Province, the dam was completed in 1985 across the Mahaweli River. It stands 122 meters high and stretches 520 meters long, creating the Victoria Reservoir. Primarily built for hydropower generation, irrigation, and flood control, it houses a hydroelectric power station that produces about 210 megawatts, contributing significantly to Sri Lanka’s energy needs. The dam also plays a crucial role in supplying water to the dry zones in the north and east through a vast canal network. Its construction marked a major engineering achievement but also led to the relocation of nearby communities and ecological changes in the region.