Laxapana Dam, Gravity dam in Central Province, Sri Lanka.
Laxapana Dam is a concrete gravity dam on the Maskeliya Oya river in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. It forms part of a network of power stations connected by penstocks that carry water between facilities for electricity generation.
The Ceylon Electricity Board completed the dam in 1969 as a key step in building the country's power supply. Over time, it was connected to a broader system linking several stations across the central highlands.
The dam sits in a part of the highlands where electricity generation changed daily life for surrounding communities. Visitors can see how the structure and its network of stations remain active in supporting the region.
The dam can be seen from designated viewpoints within the site, where the structure and water channels are clearly visible. Visiting during daylight hours gives a better sense of the layout and the surrounding highland terrain.
The dam receives water not only from the river but also from the discharge of its own downstream power stations, which feeds back into the system. This allows the same water to be used more than once for generation before continuing downstream.
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