Rambakan Oya Dam

Dam in Maha Oya

7°27′4.85″N 81°24′20.47″E / 7.4513472°N 81.4056861°E / 7.4513472; 81.4056861PurposeIrrigation and Domestic water supplyStatusOperationalConstruction began12 February 2007Opening date20 July 2013Owner(s)Ministry of IrrigationDam and spillwaysType of damEarthen damHeight24.7 m (81 ft)Length1,225 m (4,019 ft)Width (crest)7 m (23 ft)Spillways2Spillway typeRadial GateSpillway capacity554.75 m³/s (19,591 cu ft/s)ReservoirCreatesRambakan Oya ReservoirTotal capacity56,000,000 m³ (2.0×10⁹ cu ft)Catchment area129.5 km² (50.0 sq mi)

The Rambakan Oya Dam is an embankment dam in Maha Oya, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. The reservoir was designed and constructed by the Sri Lanka Mahaveli Authority and currently functions under the direction of the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources Management.^[1] It has been created by building an Earthen dam which is about 1,225m in length across the Mundeni Aru river.^[2]

The Rambakan Oya reservoir project is a multipurpose irrigation project which is commissioned to find a solution for the drinking water issue and irrigation problems in the area.^[3] It is the 10th zone of Mahaweli Development scheme and located bordering Badulla, Monaragala and Ampara districts.^[4]

History

Ancient time

There are archaeological evidences, those reveals about previous attempts to construct an irrigation tank here during the ancient time periods.^[5] According to them there are different legends and archaeological views on ancient construction of Rambakan Oya Reservoir. It is believed that construction of Rambaken Oya Reservoir was commenced by prince Giri Abaya who ruled the East, in third century, B.C. According to some other historical evidences it was commenced by Prince Saddhatissa (137-119 BC).

Ruins

There is a one-mile longed old earthen dam can be seen, near to the newly constructed dam. It was constructed between Gorikanda and Galkanda with rip rap, in high quality. Around 250 feet long dressed stones made to use for the twin Barrel Sluice are still remaining in surrounding. Any way there is no evidence to prove that the construction was completed or the reservoir was functioned.

Near to the old Sluice, a stone slab inscription belonging to 12th – 13th centuries can be seen and which identified as Rambakan Oya Slab Inscription. It describes that the stone canal was built by Liyana Nayakayan and Kanathkan Vahanse, who lived in the Gal Weta area.^[6]

Recent project

The recent project to develop the Rambakan Oya reservoir was commenced on 12 February 2007^[7] and the opening ceremony was held on 20 July 2013 with the participation of then Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Irrigation and Water Resources Management Minister.^[8]

References

^ "Rambukkan Oya Reservoir". development.lk. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
^ "Rambukkan Oya". Irrigation Departmaent. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
^ "Rambaken Oya reservoir built with local expertise, commissioned". asiansun.lk. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
^ "Rambaken Oya Project". news.lk. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
^ "Rambakanoya Tank-Rambakan Oya Old Construction". srilankatravelnotes.com. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
^ "Rambakan Oya Ruins of Ancient Granite Canal – අම්පාර රඹකැන් ඔය ගල් ඇල". amazinglanka.com. 6 September 2015. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
^ Naalir Jamaldeen (21 July 2013). "Rambakan Oya irrigation project commissioned". sundayobserver.lk. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
^ "Rambakan Oya Multipurpose Irrigation Project:'Landmark in country's irrigation history'". dailynews.lk. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2015.

External links

"Rambakan oya tank". geoview.info. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
"Projects-Rambakan oya". Irrigation Department, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 10 November 2015.

Inland waters of Sri Lanka

Rivers

≥100km	Deduru Oya Gal Oya Gin Ganga Kala Oya Kalu Ganga Kukule Ganga Kelani River Kehelgamu Oya Maskeliya Oya Pusweli Oya Kirindi Oya Kumbukkan Oya Maduru Oya Maha Oya Malwathu Oya Amban Ganga Kotmale Oya Nanu Oya Mahaweli Ganga Menik Ganga Mi Oya Walawe River Belihul Oya Yan Oya
<100km	Akkarayan Aru Kanakarayan Aru Kodalikkallu Aru Madu Ganga Mandekal Aru Mavil Aru Nay Aru (Mannar) Nay Aru (Mullaitivu) Netheli Aru Nilwala River Pali Aru Pallavarayankaddu Aru Parangi Aru Per Aru Piramenthal Aru Theravil Aru Valukkai Aru Verugal Aru

Lakes

Lagoons

Eastern coast	Batticaloa Lagoon Chalai Lagoon Chundikkulam Lagoon Kokkilai Lagoon Nai Aru Lagoon Nanthi Lagoon Ullackalie Lagoon Upaar Lagoon Vadamarachchi Lagoon Valaichchenai Lagoon
Western coast	Jaffna Lagoon Mundal Lagoon Negombo Lagoon Puttalam Lagoon Uppu Aru Lagoon
Southern coast	Koggala Lagoon Rekawa Lagoon Malala-Ambilikala Lagoons

Dams and
reservoirs

With hydroelectric capabilities	Bowatenna Broadlands Canyon Castlereigh Deduru Oya Dyraaba Gal Oya Kotmale Kukule Ganga Laxapana Maskeliya Moragahakanda Moragolla Nilambe Norton Polgolla Randenigala Rantembe Samanala Udawalawe Upper Kotmale Victoria
Irrigation-only (incl. ancient tanks)	Abhayavapi Diyawanna Giant's Tank Giritale Tank Inginimitiya Iranamadu Tank Kala Wewa Kalu Ganga Kandalama Kantale Konduwattuwana Wewa Lake Gregory Lunugamwehera Maduru Oya Minneriya Tank Muthuiyankaddu Kulam Nachchaduwa wewa Parakrama Samudra Puhulpola Rajanganaya Rambakan Oya Ratkinda Sorabora Wewa Tissa Wewa (Anuradhapura) Tissa Wewa (Tissamaharama) Ulhitiya Vavuni Kulam

With hydroelectric
capabilities